St. Charles County First Responder Agencies To Seek Voter Approval For Property Tax Relief
February 2, 2026
(St. Charles Co., MO) In the upcoming April 7 General Municipal Election, voters in St. Charles County will be asked to consider a change to the method by which first responder agencies are funded. If approved, Propositions Fire and EMS would provide millions in real and personal property tax relief for residents.
Nine fire protection districts (Wentzville, O’Fallon, Central County, Cottleville, Lake St. Louis, New Melle, Orchard Farm, Augusta, and Rivers Pointe) and the county-wide St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] will, through separate ballot measures, seek approval for a sales tax of one percent. Any agency whose measure is authorized by residents 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 Fire would authorize each fire protection agency to collect a sales tax of one percent, which would be paid on purchases made within the boundaries of that fire district (no two districts in St. Charles County overlap). Proposition Ambulance would authorize a sales tax of the same amount, but would apply to purchases county-wide, as SCCAD’s service area encompasses the entirety of the county.
Unprepared food, medications, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and fuel are among items exempt from the proposed sales taxes if the measures gain approval.
For many years, fire and ambulance agencies in other areas of Missouri including tourist destinations Lake of the Ozarks and Branson, as well as nearby Lincoln and Warren 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,” said Central County Chief John Schneider. “Our county’s state legislators – particularly Representative Terri Violet – were instrumental in this endeavor.”
Sample ballot language for each Proposition Fire measure, along with language for Proposition EMS, will be available on the St. Charles County Election Authority website.
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Chiefs Stephens and Schneider are available to discuss Propositions EMS and Fire – if you would like to schedule an interview with either, please reach out to SCCAD PIO Kyle Gaines at 636.262.2696