ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – There is a push in St. Charles County to ease the burden of inflation on personal property tax rates. Used car values have increased over 20% since 2021 because of their demand during a vehicle shortage, meaning residents will have to pay more on their personal property taxes. 

What You Need To Know

  • St. Charles County councilman proposes resolution to temporary lower the overall tax rate to keep the amount of tax the county collects flat compared to last year

  • Used car values have increased 20% since 2021 due to a new car shortage
  • Officials say if the County were to keep its tax rates the same as last year, these two taxes would collect an additional $600,000 in revenue just from the increase in used car values

  • Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann asking governor to address personal property tax relief during special session

St. Charles Councilman Mike Elam is presenting a resolution Monday night during the council meeting that will voluntarily lower the overall tax rate to keep the amount of tax the county collects flat compared to last year. 

“It’s not the fault of St. Charles County taxpayers, and I think this is a short-term issue. If we can offer some relief for taxpayers, we need to do it. It’s the right thing to do,” says Councilman Elam in a press release. 

St. Charles County collects property tax for road and bridge as well as emergency communications. Officials say if the County were to keep its tax rates the same as last year, these two taxes would collect an additional $600,000 in revenue just from the increase in used car values. 

“I am in support of this resolution,” says County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “Taxpayers should not have to face the burden of increased personal property taxation due to inflation caused by a national shortage of vehicles and the impact that has on the value reflected in the NADA car guide. I applaud Councilman Elam for being proactive on this issue and hope the entire Council will support it.”

Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, not only supports St. Charles County’s actions, but thinks it should be discussed during the governor’s Special Session on tax relief. He wants the governor to include changes to Missouri Statutes related to personal property tax assessments to the Special Session agenda.

"This is another reason for the General Assembly to take a serious look at how personal property is taxed in our state and come up with some reasonable reforms that benefit taxpayers while maintaining essential services they have come to expect."

The St. Louis County Assessor's office tells Spectrum News it understands this is a very unusual car market. The office says it is currently reviewing and analyzing the market. A spokesperson for the assessor's office also points out that it's the County Council that has power to grant tax relief, not the assessor.