Council introduces homestead property-tax freeze for April 7, 2026 ballot amid legal questions

St. Charles County introduced an ordinance Aug. 25 to place a homestead property-tax credit measure on the April 7, 2026 general municipal ballot that would prevent increases in property-tax liability on qualifying homesteads above a defined base year.

The ordinance (Bill 54-13, requested by the county executive and sponsored by the council as a whole) would ask voters whether a credit should be authorized so that a homestead—owner's county property-tax liability "shall not be increased above the liability incurred during the initial credit year," language reflecting the state statute authorizing such credits.

County Executive Steve Ehlmann told the council the administration wanted to begin discussion now because the underlying state statute treats counties differently in some cases and he is concerned a court could later invalidate local actions: "I think that's a violation of the constitution, which requires has 4 different types of counties and requires people be treated the same way within each 1," he said, urging state-level fixes before the local vote.

Council members asked for clarifications. Multiple speakers confirmed the proposal would apply to all qualifying homestead property owners in the county, not only seniors. Ehlmann and administration staff explained that jurisdictions could still seek tax increases by asking voters (for example, school districts and fire districts can continue to pursue voter-approved levies), and that the Hancock amendment—the state constitutional provision that controls revenue limits and rollback calculations—could interact with the local credit in ways that might reduce or change jurisdictions' Hancock calculations.

The administration said the county must place the question on the ballot if proceeding under the current statute and that the county could withdraw the submission later if circumstances change. Officials noted at least one lawsuit has already been filed concerning the statute.

No final vote on the ballot language occurred at the meeting; the bill was introduced for future action. Councilors and administration members said the measure, if approved by the council for placement on the ballot, could still be changed or withdrawn and that the courts or the state legislature could alter its implementation.

Ending: The council introduced Bill 54-13 and began public and council-level discussion about the proposed homestead credit; council and administration exchanges signaled legal uncertainty and the need for further review before finalizing ballot language or moving to implementation.