In the upcoming April 7 General Municipal Election, voters in St. Charles County will be asked to consider a change to the primary method by which St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] is funded. If approved, Proposition EMS would provide real and personal property tax relief for residents throughout the county.
SCCAD will seek approval for a sales tax of one percent. If the measure is approved, the District would be required by state statute to reduce taxes on real and personal property by 50 percent of the amount generated by sales tax.
“For years, our residents have demonstrated in action and word that they’re immensely supportive of the vital services St. Charles County’s fire protection and ambulance districts provide, but for numerous reasons, dislike the real/personal property tax funding mechanism that provides operating revenue for each agency,” said SCCAD Chief Skip Stephens.
Proposition EMS would apply to purchases county-wide, as SCCAD’s service area encompasses the entirety of the county. Several categories of items are exempt from the sales tax, including:
- Medications
- Diapers/Incontinence Supplies
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Fuel
- Utilities
For many years, first responder agencies in other areas of Missouri including tourist destinations Lake of the Ozarks and Branson, as well as some neighboring counties, have utilized sales tax to fund operations. Because sales taxes are levied on all purchases, visitors share in the expense of funding vital first responder services.
Until the passage of House Bill 594 last year, first responder agencies in St. Charles County were unable to present residents with this opportunity to change funding mechanism.
Sample Ballot Language:
Shall St. Charles County Ambulance District impose a sales tax of 1% for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the St. Charles County Ambulance District and the total property tax levy on properties in the St. Charles County Ambulance 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?
Commonly Asked Questions:
How will funds from the sales tax be used?
Funds from Proposition EMS would be used exactly as the real/personal property tax monies the District currently receives. These funds provide revenue needed for District operations, including salaries/benefits for paramedic and professional staff, medical supplies, fuel, vehicle and facility maintenance, safety programs, and much more.
If Prop. EMS is approved on April 7, does the sales tax take effect immediately?
If the measure gains approval, it will take some time for the Department of Revenue to update point-of-sale systems throughout the County. As such, the sales tax would not begin being collected until later this year – likely in October or November.
When would real and personal property taxes be reduced?
If the measure gains approval, real and personal property taxes will be reduced over a two-year period because these taxes are paid in arrears, and because the sales tax would not be implemented immediately.
Residents would see a reduction in their tax bills in November 2027 to reflect the [approximately] two months of 2026 that sales tax would be collected. Tax bills sent in November 2028 would reflect the fully reduced amount, as the District would receive sales tax revenue for the entirety of 2027.
Would Prop. EMS enable SCCAD to add personnel, services, programs, etc.?
If approved, the measure is expected to generate more funding than real and personal property tax currently provide. As ambulance call volume increases, the revenue would enable us to staff additional paramedic positions needed to keep response times short amid said growth and would allow for additions in professional staff needed to support the growing operation.
We are continually exploring and evaluating new service lines in our community; funding generated by Proposition EMS would enable the District to allocate resources to programs that improve patient outcomes in our community.
Would the District be able to reduce costs for residents beyond the reduction in real and personal property taxes?
Currently, patients are responsible for care/transport costs not covered by insurance. If Prop. EMS were to gain approval, the District would eliminate balance billing for County residents. Trips would be billed to an insurance carrier, but residents would not be responsible for any balance not covered by insurance.
Further, it is projected that funds generated by Prop. EMS would be sufficient for SCCAD to fund debt service payments on outstanding bonds and future capital projects from our general operating fund. Currently, residents pay five cents per $100 assessed valuation for debt service.
Will I pay more in taxes to SCCAD under the proposed sales tax model, or under the current real/personal property tax setup?
There are several variables that would influence which funding mechanism would be most advantageous for an individual or family – assessed valuation of home, number/age/mileage on vehicles and other items eligible for personal property tax, and family spending habits would all be determining factors.
The median home value in St. Charles County is approximately $375,000 – at SCCAD’s current general tax rate, this translates to about $190 in property taxes.
The average personal property tax assessment in St. Charles County is $7,963, which would calculate to $21.30. Combining the real and personal property tax totals, we reach a total of $211.30.
Under a sales tax model, a family would need to spend $21,130 on sales tax eligible items to reach the same level of tax paid to the District.
What happens if Prop. EMS does not pass – are ambulance services at risk?
Ambulance service is not at risk if Proposition EMS does not pass. The District will continue to be funded in the same way it has since our formation in 1974 – via a combination of real and personal property tax revenue and user fees.
If the measure is unsuccessful, it is likely that the District would, in the future, ask voters to consider a general property tax increase to support demand for services, which are expected to continue growing.
Paid for by St. Charles County Ambulance District for public information purposes only. Not intended to advocate, support, or oppose any ballot measure.