What to Know About Proposition S

Proposition S is a non-partisan property tax levy proposal that will be on the November 2026 ballot asking voters to establish a senior citizens services fund in St. Louis County. The proposed levy rate is a property tax of 5 cents per one-hundred dollars of assessed property. If approved, the levy would help fund community-based services, including things like transportation, home repair, and other supports that can help older adults remain healthy, safe, and independent. Nearly half of Missouri’s counties have already chosen to establish a senior citizens services fund. St. Louis County narrowly rejected Proposition S when it was on the November 2016 ballot.

The tax would be assessed on all real property at a rate of 5 cents per one hundred dollars of assessed property value. The cost will depend on your property’s assessed value. Homeowners would pay $9.50 per year for every $100,000 of appraised home value about 79 cents per month for each $100,000 of a home’s assessed value.

For personal property tax, for each $10,000 of property valued, an additional $1.67 would be due each year.

If Proposition S fails, property taxes would remain at a similar rate, outside of assessment value adjustments or other tax levies recently approved by voters.

Per Missouri State Statute, funding can support services for St. Louis County residents which “will improve the health, nutrition, and quality of life of persons who are sixty years of age or older.” In other counties that have adopted this measure, services are available broadly, not only to people who meet an income requirement.

Per state statute, the funds can be utilized to provide programs which will improve the health, nutrition, and quality of life of persons who are sixty years of age or older, as well as for operational and capital needs to senior-related programs. Other counties have used funds to provide services to help older adults remain healthy, independent, and safely in their own homes, rather than needing nursing home care. Other counties have used the funds to provide home-delivered meals, assistance with paying utility bills, in-home care assistance, home repairs and safety modifications, fall prevention devices, transportation, and senior center operating funds.

These services can be cost-effective for the public. Nearly 75% of older adults want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Helping older adults remain safely at home can reduce or delay the need for costly institutional care and help control costs for everyone. Missouri spends approximately $55,663 annually per Medicaid enrollee who is placed in institutional care.

State statute does not specify that only low-income seniors are eligible for support. Some counties have chosen to implement income guidelines for some of their programs while others have not.

A senior services fund could benefit older adults across St. Louis County—not just those with low incomes. Some services may be targeted to people with greater financial or other needs, while many services could be available to all county residents age 60 and older.

State law requires that the funds be overseen by an independent, seven-member appointed board. The board would develop policies for how the fund is administered, including what kinds of programs would be funded and what kinds of entities are eligible to apply. Per St Louis County law, funds collected by the County need to be audited annually to ensure accountability and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. In most counties with senior citizens services funds, funding is provided to organizations and service providers that deliver programs benefiting older adults through a transparent grant application process and public RFPs.

County property taxes would remain static. However, without a dedicated local funding source, gaps in senior services are likely to continue as federal and state budgets face increasing pressure and the number of older adults continues to grow. Investment in Missourians aged 60+ has not kept pace with inflation. Per capita (inflation adjusted for 2023), Missouri invests $7.71 per older adult vs $15.27 in 2007. This could leave more seniors without access to the services they need to remain healthy, independent, and safe in their homes.

If federal and state funding remains stable or increases, the County fund would supplement those investments, not replace them, helping expand services and reach more older adults across St. Louis County. If Proposition S does not pass, taxpayers will not pay more in property taxes.

If Proposition S passes in November 2026, the first year of funding would be collected in 2027. Funding could be ready for distribution as soon as early 2028. When St. Louis City passed their senior citizens services fund in November 2016, funding was collected in the tax year of 2017 and the first round of funding went out in the middle of 2018.

Seniors receiving the Senior Citizens Property Tax Freeze would still contribute to the senior services levy as they would be annexed into a new taxing district. The amount due would be based on the property tax liability established in their initial credit year.

For example, if a homeowner’s property was valued at $200,000 when they entered the program and later increased to $250,000, their property taxes would be subject to the freeze/credit based on the amount established in their initial credit year. The senior services levy would still apply based on the applicable taxable/assessed value.