via flickr/greaterumbrage
Voters in St. Louis overwhelmingly supported the earnings tax.
Despite retired investor Rex Sinquefield’s $2-million campaign against the city’s earning tax, voters overwhelmingly reauthorized it for another five years on Tuesday. More than 72 percent of voters backed the earnings tax, which raises about a third of the city’s general revenue budget. About 55 percent of the tax is paid by those who work in the city but live elsewhere.
More than 82 percent of city voters said yes to Proposition F, a bond package of up to $25 million to purchase, replace, improve or maintain city-owned vehicles. Money can also be used to repair, renovate and replace bridges, recreation centers and other public facilities.
See also: St. Louis County Election Board Blasted For Ballot Shortages
The St. Louis Public Schools district was also a winner on Tuesday as Proposition 1 easily passed with more than 69 percent of the vote. It will hike the district’s property tax levy 75 cents. A home valued at $100,000 will now be billed $140 a year more in taxes.
Voters in the Ladue, Maplewood-Richmond Heights and Fort Zumwalt school districts also approved respective tax hikes in support of schools.
City and county voters both supported Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s Proposition Y and S. Prop Y grants MSD permission to sell bonds to finance $900 million of federally mandated upgrades to wastewater sewers. Prop S equalizes the property tax rate for storm water service. City residents will pay 72 cents more a year. Inner-ring suburbs tax bills will go down $22. And property tax bills will increase $47.20 for homes outside of I-270.
Voters in Ferguson passed Proposition E, a half-cent sales tax increase for economic development with 69 percent of the vote. But Proposition P, a property tax increase that would add about $76 each year to the tax on a house valued at $100,000, fell short of the 66 percent it needed to pass. It did receive the majority of votes at 57 percent.
The city has a $2.9 million budget deficit, and the mayor and city council estimate the Justice Department consent agreement will cost an estimated $2.3 million over three years.
