Residents across four area fire districts sent a clear message on April 7: no new sales taxes for fire and emergency services.

Every Proposition F measure on the ballot — each of which would have created a 1% sales tax, with half the revenue used to lower property taxes residents already pay — failed by wide margins, according to unofficial results reported by West News Magazine on April 8.

The Vote, District by District

• Metro West Fire Protection District — 63.43% voted No
• Monarch Fire Protection District (serves parts of Chesterfield and Wildwood) — 63.19% voted No
• West County EMS & Fire Protection District — 59.26% voted No
• Creve Coeur Fire Protection District — 56.46% voted No

The proposals were structured similarly across all four districts: a 1% sales tax, with the promise that half of that new revenue would offset existing property tax bills. Voters rejected the trade-off in every case, with none of the measures coming within 10 points of passing.

One Measure Did Pass: Monarch Fire's $42 Million Bond

Monarch Fire District voters rejected the sales tax but approved a separate measure on the same ballot. Proposition D — a $42 million bond issue — passed with 57.27% in favor. The district said the bond carries no increase to the current tax rate, meaning residents in Monarch's coverage area would not see a higher tax bill as a result.