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Creve Coeur council approves ballot title to ask voters about city use tax (Prop 1)
Summary
Council accepted an amended ordinance to submit a use-tax proposition (Proposition 1) to Creve Coeur voters on Nov. 4, 2025; public commenters urged delay and questioned past tax waivers for development, and staff clarified the proposal is for general revenue and not a specific trash tax.
The Creve Coeur City Council on Monday voted to accept an amended bill that places a use-tax question on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot.
The amended bill adds a ballot title and description for "Proposition 1," a use tax at a rate equal to the total local sales taxes in effect for storing, using or consuming tangible personal property within the city, and references Missouri statutes (Sections 144.6 through 144.761, RSMo).
Patty Trout, a lifelong resident speaking during public comment, said she opposed placing a new use tax on the ballot without more information and questioned prior tax incentives the city granted to developers and businesses. "Some of those things include TIF districts, TDDs … we keep waiving it, and it's always for developers or businesses," Trout said, urging the council to defer the proposal until more details are provided.
City staff and a councilmember responded in detail: staff explained the proposal is for general revenue (not a dedicated trash levy), clarified that a local-option sales tax was approved by voters in roughly 2012, and described how past incentives (TIF, TDD, chapter 100 agreements) function and that the city received sales tax during incentive periods. The city emphasized that the amended bill is not an approval of a new tax by council but is the procedural step to submit the question to voters.
After discussion and public comment, council members voted to accept the amended bill and proceed with the ballot submission; the roll call recorded 'aye' votes and council reported the action passed unanimously.
