A sales tax to pay for an emergency communications system in St. Charles County highlights a small set of special elections on Aug. 4.

The sales tax of one 20th of a cent is the only countywide proposal on the ballot. Special elections also will occur in Berkeley and University City in St. Louis County, Elsberry and Hawk Point in Lincoln County. The deadline for putting proposals on the Aug. 4 ballot recently passed.

The sales tax in St. Charles County would start in 2011 and be in effect for 15 years, ending in 2026. The proposal also would extend an existing capital improvement sales tax for 10 additional years until 2031. Now the tax expires in 2021.

The tax of one-20th cent would provide about $24 million of the cost of the $36 million emergency communications system. The remaining money for the project would come from county revenue sources.

The current total sales tax rate in the unincorporated area is 5.9 cents. The rates increase to 7.9 percent in Foristell, New Melle, O’Fallon and Wentzville. County residents buying a new vehicle worth $20,000 would pay an additional $10 a year in sales taxes to the county if the proposal passes.

Berkeley wants voters to approve a half-cent economic development sales tax that would raise about $600,000 a year. The city would use the money to create jobs, attract new businesses, improve streetscapes and finance home and business repairs. A five-member economic development board would oversee the spending of the tax money.

The city’s total property tax rate is 7.825 cents. A resident who purchases a vehicle worth $20,000 would pay an additional $100 in sales taxes if voters approve the proposal.

Voters in University City will consider adopting a one-fourth cent local sales tax to keep the status quo in its municipal government. The tax would raise about $400,000 a year.

Janet Watson, the deputy city manager and finance director, says the increase would allow the city to maintain existing services. She noted the city has eliminated 38 positions – 12 percent of the staff – in the past two years. The city’s operating budget is about $27 million a year.

The city’s total sales tax rate is 7.825 cents. A resident who purchases a vehicle worth $20,000 would pay an additional $50 in sales taxes if voters approve the proposal.

Hawk Point voters will consider authorizing a $2.6 million revenue bond issue and a $900,000 general obligation bond issue for sewer and water projects.

The revenue bonds would pay for drilling a new well and water tower and work on water mains that would increase the system capacity. Bond money also would finance some sewer system improvements and the purchase of up to 100 acres where treated effluent from city sewer lagoons would be sprayed on land to dry out.

Using such as land system, Hawk Point would avoid having to install expensive equipment to meet federal and state clean water regulations for effluent going into Turkey Creek, a tributary of the Cuivre River, Lee Elliott, an attorney for the city, said.

If voters approve the bond issue, Hawk Point could qualify for federal economic stimulus money.

The city would use the $900,000 general obligation bond issue to purchase the up to 100 acres. The proposal for these bonds require a two-thirds favorable majority to pass. The city may be able to avoid raising water and sewer rates or taxes to retire all the bonds, he said.

Elsberry voters will consider for a second time an annexation that would add property north and south of the city.

City voters on April 7 approved the proposal by 60.71 percent favorable vote, but no one lives in the annexation area. City officials considered the proposal defeated, City Clerk Jo Ann Cordsiemon said.

On Aug. 4, the annexation needs a two-thirds favorable vote from the city and the annexation area combined. The issue of no voters in the annexation area becomes moot.

If voters approve, the city would add about half-mile of the right of way of Highway 79 north of the city to Highway CC. The city would also annex some railroad property on the east edge of the city and add about 1.5 miles of Highway 79 south of the city to Evans Lane. The city also would annex U.S. Department of Agriculture property between Highways 79 and JJ.

Pevely voters were to consider a fee of $12 a month for use of the recreation complex of Teamsters Local 688, but a procedural defect has forced the city to take the proposal off the ballot.
Among the amenities at the complex are a swimming pool, golf course, lake and picnic area and other amenities, City Administrator Happy Welch said.

The complex is just outside the city limits between Highway 61-67 and the Mississippi River. The union developed it in the late 1960s and 1970s.

When aldermen voted on May 18 to put the proposal on the ballot only three were physically present at the meeting, Welch said. A fourth alderman participated via speakerphone, he said. Later the city learned that all four aldermen had to be physically present to give the board a quorum for that meeting.

The city will ask a circuit judge to formally remove the proposition from the ballot, Welch said.