Proposition F
Proposition F is a measure on the April 7th ballot to create a 1% sales tax that will support fire and emergency medical services. If approved, it would provide funding for each District's operations and reduce property taxes by half of the amount received from sales tax revenues.
Lower property tax, same public safety
What does this proposition do?
Prop. F replaces a portion of the currently existing operating tax.
It will lessen the burden on homeowners by ensuring that everyone who lives in, works in, or shops in our community contributes to public safety.
Why is this proposition needed now?
Our call volume and population are increasing while revenue on new construction and real property tax are capped due Missouri’s Hancock Amendment and Homestead Property Tax Credit. This means that even when your home value increases, it doesn’t translate into more usable revenue for us.
Personal property values also depreciate quickly, shrinking the tax base every year unless new purchases offset it.
Property owners will see their annual taxes rolled back, or in some cases eliminated completely – based on the revenue generated by sales tax.
What does this cost?
If this measure passes, one cent would be added to each dollar spent on everyday consumer goods and luxuries. Many groceries, fuel, prescription drugs, utilities, and agricultural equipment will be exempt from the sales tax.
Will this reduce my Fire/EMS services if it fails?
If this measure does not pass we will continue to operate with the funding mechanism that is currently in place. Your property tax rates will not be affected and we will periodically have to come back to the voters for property tax increases as state legislation reduces our operating tax rates.
What happens if there is an economic downturn?
Fire/EMS doesn’t spend everything the moment it comes in. We maintain emergency reserves and use multi-year planning to ensure response times, staffing, and equipment don’t suffer in lean years. This measure is about creating flexibility in how we fund safety without overburdening property owners.
Why is property tax unpopular?
All of us pay sales tax when we purchase something and then we’re taxed again every year for owning it. Personal property tax bills hit a family all at once, right before the holidays. Property tax calculations are not transparent so every year property owners have to guess how much they will owe to save appropriately. Renters, visitors, and commuters don’t even pay for it, but they still benefit from Fire/EMS protection.
Property tax is a regressive tax that doesn’t scale with income or spending habits – its a fixed cost of ownership which disproportionately affects families with more taxable items. This places a heavier burden on the families with working adults and teens who need multiple cars; small business owners with work trucks and trailers; or the local farm with vehicles and taxable machines.
Meanwhile, sales taxes apply to everyday purchases and they’re paid little by little. With this change, our residents will have more control over when and how much they pay in taxes and you will know exactly how much you’re paying.