Budget committee gives due-pass to Resolution 194, adopts assessment maintenance plan substitute

The St. Louis City Board of Aldermen Budget Committee voted to give a due-pass recommendation to Resolution 194, adopting a committee substitute that contains the exhibits for the city's two-year assessment maintenance plan.

Assessor Sean Ordway presented the plan and told the committee the maintenance plan, required by state statute, outlines how the assessor's office will maintain assessments for real and personal property and be submitted to the State Tax Commission. "The objective of the maintenance plan is to outline how the assessor is going to maintain assessments for both real and personal property," Ordway said.

Why it matters: Passing the committee substitute allows the plan to proceed to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment and ensures the city remains in compliance with the State Tax Commission's timelines. Ordway told the committee that compliance keeps state technical assistance and an annual reimbursement in place; he described a reimbursement of roughly $3.30 per parcel and said that with about 135,000 parcels that amounts to approximately $450,000 annually.

Key details from the presentation: Ordway said the senior property tax freeze has required significant staff time in the assessor's office, estimating it consumes "about 1 and a half to 2 full time employees" to process applications and related work. He also said the office will need to reassess roughly 14,000 parcels in the tornado-affected area to determine values as of Jan. 1, 2026, and that conducting those field reviews will place additional strain on existing personnel.

On enforcement: Ordway reviewed statutory timelines and consequences if the city fails to submit or comply with the maintenance plan. Reading from the statute, he said the plan must be prepared and submitted on a schedule set by the State Tax Commission; if a county (or the city) fails to forward the plan, the assessor's plan may be considered approved by default. He also warned that the state can withhold funding or take further steps used elsewhere, including directing the board of equalization to make across-the-board adjustments, actions the assessor said the city seeks to avoid.

Committee response and questions: Members praised Ordway's presentation and asked about valuation methods for vacant or dilapidated properties and about outreach for the senior tax freeze. Ordway said the office relies on market sales data and condition comparisons to value properties, and that outreach has included senior programs, community events and coordination with other city agencies. Vice Chair Browning called the presentation "transparent" and thanked Ordway for the work of his office.

Procedural actions: The committee adopted the committee substitute for Resolution 194 and then voted to recommend a due pass to the full Board. The committee also approved two sets of meeting minutes (including minutes dated Jan. 8, 2026) and adjourned.

What happens next: With the committee's due-pass recommendation, Resolution 194 (committee substitute) is expected to move to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment and then to the full Board of Aldermen for final consideration. The assessor's office said it will continue outreach on the senior tax freeze and proceed with the tornado-area reassessments under the timetable required by state law.