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10 South County Times April 13 - 19, 2012

In Crestwood

Board Discusses Prop. S Tax Extension

by Eileen P. DugganThe Crestwood Board of Aldermen opened a di-

alogue at its April 10 meeting on the possibility of 

extending the Proposition S property tax to offsetcontinuing losses in sales tax revenue.

The discussion included clarication of the cur-rent year’s revenues and expenditures, as reportedin a fourth-quarter and 2011 year-end nancial re-port at a March 13 meeting.

“The city still faces many hurdles in years 2013to 2016,” said Finance Director Greg Kremer, notingthat a reported $842,000 surplus comes from one-time sources. “The city is also facing lost revenuefrom the closure of Barnes & Noble and the pendingclosure of Sears. What the 2011 nancial result has

done for the city is just bought more time.” Although no decision was made, current alder-

men and aldermen-elect discussed the possibility of either collecting the 20-cent tax for its nal year in

2012 or putting a tax increase issue before voters.

“I feel we need to be prepared,” said AldermanJerry Miguel. “We need to take a close look at costsas well as revenues.”

Noting retail trends, such as smaller stores andInternet sales, he added: “The end of this downsizingin retail has not run its course.”

Miguel recommended taking time in April andMay to discuss whether to put to voters the ques-tion of some tax measure to replace Proposition S.

 Any August ballot issue must be presented to the St.Louis County Election Board by the end of May, saidCity Clerk Tina Flowers.

Miguel and Alderman John Foote recapped thelong history of nancial troubles that led the city to

pass the Proposition S property tax measure in 2006.Prop S revenue paid off the $2.87 million note in2011, one year before its “sunset” date. Although the

board voted in 2010 to stop collecting the tax at theend of 2011, the aldermen still could decide to collectthe tax in 2012 before it expires. The tax has brought

in more than $500,000 in revenue each year.“Proposition S was for debt reduction and that

has been done,” said Alderman Darryl Wallach. “Ourobjective for Prop S has already been met.” While hedoesn’t favor extending the Prop S tax, Wallach ac-

knowledged that the city “has to do something.”Outgoing Alderman Deb Beezley agreed with

Miguel about an August ballot issue, but also ad-vocated collecting the Prop S tax for the nal year,

which would not require a vote of the people.“Prop S is a tax that’s already been assessed,” she

said.She noted that the average homeowner pays

about $120 to $200 a year, or $10 to $16 per month,on the tax.

“The sooner we get out a clear summary — inprint form — showing the past 10 years, the soonerresidents will see where we really are,” said alder-man-elect Dan Tennessen, who was elected April 3to ll Beezley’s 4th Ward seat. He noted that very

few people he encountered on the campaign trailtalked about making major service cuts.

 Alderman-elect Tim Trueblood noted that Crest-wood citizens have voted for tax measures in thepast. Voters approved the annexation of an area thatfalls in the Affton Fire District; improvements to theGovernment Center; construction of the AquaticCenter; and Proposition S, he said.

“We need to recreate that environment. Some-where there’s an opportunity to rebuild that trust.How do we do that?” said Trueblood. Trueblood was

elected this month to ll Chris Pickel’s 2nd Ward

seat, a seat he held himself from 1993 until 2006.When the board and the ways and means commit-

tee review tax rates in the fall, they will consider thepossibility of collecting the Prop S tax for 2012, saidMayor Jeff Schlink. The ways and means committeehas been meeting monthly this year at Schlink’s di-rection to keep on top of nancial issues.

“We don’t want to make any knee-jerk reactions,”Schlink said.

Clarifes current year’s revenues

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