Voter Guide

Simple majority required.Ballot wording: Shall the Board of Directors of the West County EMS and Fire Protection District impose a sales tax of one percent (1 %) for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the West County EMS and Fire Protection District and the total property tax levy on properties in the West County EMS and Fire Protection District shall be reduced annually by an amount which reduces property tax revenues by an amount equal to fifty percent of the previous year's revenue collected from this sales tax. If this referendum is approved by voters, the estimated property tax savings should be between 0.0750 and 0.1000 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.Summary: If passed, the sales tax on retail purchases in the district would increase by 1 cent to help pay for fire protection, EMS and rescue services and to reduce property taxes. The measure requires the district's property tax rate to drop by an amount producing revenue equal to half of the previous year's revenue from the sales tax hike. Supporters say the measure would allow property owners and the wider population using these services to share the cost of providing them. Critics say sales taxes are regressive and the region is becoming a high-sales tax area.