TAXES, TAXES, TAXES

The New Year is underway, the good wishes, the holiday cheers have faded away.  How about those New Year’s resolutions?  There is still time to lose weight, to have job improvement, to meet those other personal challenges you aspired to.  That old expression ‘the only things certain are death and taxes’ doesn’t have to be true.  As you know, taxes are the prime source of income for cities.  For us the state sales tax is our largest revenue source (approximately 38% of all revenues).  Estate and personal property taxes amount to another 15% of total revenues.   These two taxes account for over 50% of our revenue stream.  How are they collected?  We receive a portion of the state sales tax based on population.  Obviously the amount varies depending on retail sales.  These dollars are submitted to us monthly through St. Louis County.  Personal property and real estate taxes are based on a voter approved rate and are forwarded to us by the county.  The county collects these taxes according to the rates established for the various taxing districts (see chart below).  To most of us, taxes always seem to be too high. How about your city?  How much of that total real estate tax do we get?  Where does your taxing district tax money go?  Your recently paid real estate tax was computed using the percentages shown in the chart below.  This chart is one taxing district in Clarkson Valley.

To put some meat into the chart, here is a sample of taxes paid for a home in Clarkson Valley.  Remembering that assessed valuation is figured at 19% of real value, and the taxes are figured at 1¢ per $100 valuation.  Let’s assume your home is valued at $500,000 (this is illustrative only):

Total real estate tax                                       $6,761

Using the percentages in the chart example of the highest amounts received:

                        Special School District                    $   891

                        Rockwood                                     $3,808

                        Fire District                                    $    784 (or $928 – Metro West) *

                        Clarkson Valley’s portion                $   108

Your direct cost for city government is $108 a year - that’s less than 2% of your total real estate taxes.  All of us tend to complain about taxes.  I hope this information is helpful to you in identifying where your money goes and perhaps eliminate some frustration. 

For more information specific to your home, go to http://revenue.stlouisco.com/IAS.

By the way, if you are interested in knowing more about the City’s revenues and expenses, we are more than willing to share all and listen to any suggestions.  Call me if you are interested 636.394.8916.

*Westhampton, Clarkson Farm and a very small portion of Forest Hills Club Estates are in METRO WEST Fire District with rates as follows: