Voter Guide

Simple majority required.Ballot wording: Shall the West Overland EMS and Fire Protection District of St. Louis County, Missouri impose a sales tax of one percent for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the District and the total property tax levy on properties in the 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?Summary: If passed, the sales tax on retail purchases within 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. The district estimates that the sales tax hike would generate $1.5 million to $2.5 million for the district to help meet increasing costs. Opponents say sales taxes are regressive and the region's sales taxes are too high.