ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Two tax measures meant to pay for care at opposite ends of life went down on Tuesday, as St. Louis County voters rejected a property tax for senior services and city voters turned away a sales tax for child care, final unofficial results show.
In the county, Proposition S failed with 58% of voters saying no. The measure would have raised the property tax by 5 cents for every $100 of assessed value, which works out to about $19 a year on a $200,000 home. The increase was projected to bring in about $16 million annually for a new Senior Citizen Service Fund.
An appointed board would have handed that money to nonprofits serving residents 60 and older, an age group that accounts for about one in every four county residents.
A spokesman for the Prop S campaign said supporters were disappointed but understood why voters worried about affordability. He said the needs of older residents are still growing and that backers will look for other ways to fund in-home services.
Inside the city, Proposition B drew 47% support, well short of the 60% that charter changes require. The half-cent sales tax was expected to raise about $22 million a year to help families with children under 5 pay for early education and care.
Child care providers would also have been able to seek grants for staff pay and building repairs under Prop B, and backers had said the money could open care to about 2,000 more families.
Both results remain unofficial until election authorities in the city and the county certify the final count in the coming weeks.
Section: More St. Louis MO politics news
Filed under: St. Louis MO Politics News
