Historical April–May 2016 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
1. Renewal of the Earnings Tax The Earnings Tax is paid by those who live and/or work in the City of St. Louis.
It has been in effect for almost 7 decades.
It makes up a third of the city’s revenue. No taxes are popular but if this tax is eliminated there is no painless replacement. Our sales tax hovers around 10% and property taxes are not slight either. Did residents rise up and demand a different tax structure? No.
The fact that this is on the ballot and all the efforts to get people to vote no are supported solely by a very wealthy retired investment banker who does not believe in income taxes.
My vote will be to retain the earnings tax, or the consequences will be catastrophic in a city already starved for revenue with too few police, etc. Note: The Earnings Tax is the subject of my recent interview with journalist D.J. Wilson for podcast at KDHX.org. 2. School Tax The St. Louis School District wants to increase its operating levy by 75 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. One estimate is that a house assessed at $150,000 would pay an additional $112.50 a year in property tax.
This levy would affect educational options and teacher pay.
It has been twenty years since the schools have had an increase in the tax. 3. Two bond issues from the Metropolitan Sewer District To address storm sewers, there is a $900 million bond issue and a property tax raise of 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
This will also repeal a property tax levy within the original boundaries of MSD and have a uniform levy throughout the district. 4. City of St. Louis Bond Issue not to Exceed $25,000,000 To replace emergency vehicles, update computer hardware and software, repair or replace bridges, etc.
From the ballot language, “If this proposition is approved, the property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged.” Whatever you decide to do, vote on April 5.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2016.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source house assessed at 150000 with 112.50 extra annual tax appears valuation/assessment inconsistency; preserve source rather than recompute inside archival article.
Original source: SD_Times2016_04.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
