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Council sets 2026 tax rates; collector backs zero personal-property levy
Summary
The St. Charles County Council passed Bill 5511 to fix 2026 tax rates, maintaining real-estate rates and proposing a 0 personal-property rate. County Collector Michelle McBride said the change would provide direct relief to taxpayers while protecting funds for roads and dispatch operations.
The St. Charles County Council on July 27 approved Bill 5511, an ordinance fixing and levying the county's 2026 tax rates. Michelle McBride, St. Charles County collector of revenue, urged the council to set the personal-property rate at 0 while holding real-estate rates steady to preserve funding for road and dispatch services.
"Setting the personal property rate to 0 and effectively eliminating the county personal property tax this year brings meaningful relief to taxpayers at a time when many are feeling pressures of rising costs elsewhere," McBride said. She told the council her office has already started technical work so bills can be issued on schedule if the ordinance passed.
Public Advocate Arnie C. DeNof asked the council to clarify packet figures that he said implied a 1.956% change and requested that finance staff explain whether that reflects a true tax increase or is driven by assessed-value changes and new construction. The council did not change the ordinance during the meeting.
With the ordinance in place, county officials said road, bridge and dispatch funds will continue to rely on the established real-estate levy while residents receive immediate personal-property relief. The council voted in favor of the ordinance on a roll call; the substitute or final tally was announced and the bill passed.
