All four fire protection districts serving the Chesterfield area asked voters for a 1% sales tax on April 7 — and all four were turned down.

Metro West, Monarch, West County, and Creve Coeur fire districts each placed the measure on the ballot, hoping to diversify revenue beyond property taxes by collecting from shoppers and diners — including visitors who use 911 services but don't pay into local tax rolls. Voters in every one of those districts said no.

At Creve Coeur FPD, the rejection was decisive: 56.46% voted against the measure, according to unofficial results reported by West News Magazine. Vote percentages for the other three districts were not available at press time.

For Chesterfield-area families, the immediate outcome is clear: property tax bills stay where they are, and no new penny-on-the-dollar sales tax will appear at local registers.

Had the measures passed, Missouri law would have required each district to phase in property tax relief equal to half the sales tax revenue collected — meaning homeowners would have eventually seen lower property tax bills in exchange for the new sales tax. That trade-off is now off the table for Chesterfield-area homeowners.

A Regional Split

The local results bucked the countywide trend. Across St. Louis County, 14 of 20 fire and EMS districts that placed the 1% sales tax on the ballot won approval and are expected to begin collecting the new tax in October 2026, according to St. Louis Public Radio.

The wave of fire district tax measures was made possible by two changes Missouri lawmakers approved in 2025 through HB 199. One expanded which counties could authorize fire and EMS sales taxes; the other doubled the allowable rate from half a percent to a full penny.

"Our visitors are going to help contribute to pay for the public services they currently already benefit from, but don't pay anything towards," Garrett Ryan, political director for the Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri, told St. Louis Public Radio before the vote.

But the first-time-on-the-ballot nature of the measures may have worked against some districts. Cory Hogan, vice president of the firefighters' union, told St. Louis Public Radio that voters were caught off guard.

"Considering this is the first time St. Louis and St. Charles County voters have had either one of these issues in front of them, it's safe to say they were not prepared," Hogan said.

Monarch Also Had a Bond on the Ballot

Monarch FPD had more at stake than the other three districts. Beyond the sales tax, the district also placed a separate $42 million bond issue before voters. Monarch officials had described the two measures as "one coordinated plan" to address growing demand for services. The bond result was not available at press time.

What Comes Next

With the sales tax rejected, the four Chesterfield-area districts will continue relying on property taxes as their primary funding source.

Countywide, just 14.1% of registered voters cast ballots on April 7, with all 196 polling places reporting. Results remain unofficial pending certification by the St. Louis County Board of Elections.