The Eureka Fire Protection District’s second attempt this year to secure a tax increase failed.
On Tuesday, Aug. 5, voters overwhelmingly rejected an increase of 34 cents per $100 assessed valuation, with 1,450 no votes, or 59.5 percent, and 987 yes votes, or about 40.5 percent, according to unofficial election results.
The measure, called Proposition F, required a simple majority for passage. The same measure was on the April 8 ballot and failed to pass by just 10 votes.
In St. Louis County, 1,162, about 60 percent, voted against the tax increase, and 759, about 40 percent, voted for the increase, unofficial election results show.
In Jefferson County, there were 288 no votes, about 55.8 percent, and 228 yes votes, about 44.2 percent, according to unofficial election results.
If the tax increase had been approved, Eureka Fire would have used the additional revenue to raise salaries in an effort to better recruit and retain firefighters; to purchase new equipment to replace outdated equipment; and to fund building repairs, district officials said.
The Eureka Fire Protection District covers about 63 square miles in Eureka, Hoene Springs and portions of Wildwood and Pacific.
The fire district’s current tax levy is $1.290 per $100 assessed valuation.
Chief Scott Barthelmass said he believes the district’s projected tax levy will be reduced to $1.10 per $100 of assessed valuation this year to comply with the Hancock Amendment. In Missouri, the amendment stipulates that local governments must adjust their property tax rates to avoid “windfall revenues resulting from increased home values,” according to the MOST Policy Initiative.
The Hancock Amendment to the Missouri Constitution, approved by voters in 1980, can effectively put a cap on Eureka Fire’s annual budget. While the fire district will collect the same amount in property taxes, the amendment does not account for cost increases due to inflation.
Unofficial results for Prop F
Overall
No
■ 1,450 (59.5 percent)
Yes
■ 987 (40.5)
St. Louis County
No
■ 1,162 (60)
Yes
■ 759 (40)
Jefferson County
No
■ 288 (55.8)
Yes
■ 228 (44.2)