Summary
Voters will go to the polls Tuesday, April 7, 2009 to vote whether to reauthorize and expand the CWE Southeast Special Business District. The CWE Southeast SBD has been providing supplemental security services in the neighborhood for the last 13 years. Recently, the district joined with several other CWE SBDs and institutions to create the Central West End Neighborhood Security Initiative, a program designed to coordinate and improve security throughout the neighborhood. A pilot program introducing private bike police patrols is currently under way as part of the CWE NSI.
Your vote is important! The proposition must pass for these security services to continue in the CWE Southeast. Click here to read a letter from Harold Karabell, CWE Southeast SBD resident, residential property owner and commercial property owner.
A community meeting to explain the proposition and answer questions will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at Central West End Midtown Development, 12 N. Sarah St.
What is a Special Business District?
A Special Business District is a unit of local government that collects taxes based on the assessed value of property in a defined geographical area. Funds raised are designated for specific purposes in that neighborhood, such as security or beautification. The name “business district” is misleading, as both residential and commercial properties are taxed, with the proceeds being used for the entire neighborhood. The city of St. Louis has a number of SBDs, including
six in the Central West End.
What is the CWE Southeast SBD?
The CWE Southeast SBD was established by voters in 1996 to provide additional security services in the area. (
Click here to see map of existing and proposed boundaries.) The SBD is governed by a seven-member commission appointed by the Mayor. State law requires that five of the commissioners are property owners and two are renters in the district. These seven commissioners are responsible for overseeing the funds raised by the tax. By law, the funds can only be spent on the specific purposes (i.e., security and beautification) approved by the voters.
What services does the CWE Southeast SBD provide?
Currently, the Southeast SBD hires private police patrols for approximately 35 hours per week. Bike patrols have recently been added as part of a pilot program. The SBD also contributes to the Neighborhood Security Initiative, an effort to coordinate the activities of six separate SBDs within the Central West End.
Why does the CWE Southeast SBD require reauthorization?
The CWE Southeast SBD was reauthorized for 10 years in 1999. To continue to collect taxes and provide services, the SBD must be reauthorized by voters this year. If not reauthorized, private police patrols and other SBD security programs will cease at the end of 2009.
What is the new proposal for the CWE Southeast SBD?
- Expand district boundaries (Click here for map)
- Set a maximum tax rate of 43 cents per $100 assessed valuation
- Allow funds to be used for security, infrastructure and beautification
- Renew district for 10 years
Why is the district being expanded?
The expanded boundaries will allow security services in areas of the neighborhood not currently covered, filling “gaps” in neighborhood security.
What types of services will be allowed under the new proposal?
The proposal calls for the funds to be used for security, infrastructure and/or neighborhood beautification. Security could include private patrols and other security-related expenses; infrastructure and beautification could include lighting, sidewalk repair or landscaping services. The commission will decide how the funds will be spent in these areas.
Who came up with the reauthorization/expansion proposal?
The proposal to reauthorize and expand the district was authored by a committee of neighborhood residents: Tony Angel, Kathryn Chambers, Harold Karabell and Jack Lynch.
What will property owners have to pay?
The maximum rate is the same as the current rate: 43 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The maximum rate allowed by law is 85 cents, but it was decided to keep the rate at current level. The actual tax paid is based upon the assessed value of the property. As an example, if the assessed value of a property is $30,000, that amount is multiplied by .0043. The resulting amount, $129, would be the amount owed for one year. The assessed value for your property can be found on the
City of St. Louis Assessor's website. Just multiply the assessed value by .0043 to determine the yearly tax payment.
Click here to see a table of sample tax payments. The tax will be added onto real estate tax bills at the end of 2009.
Who can vote on the CWE Southeast SBD proposition?
A proposition for the CWE Southeast SBD will appear on the ballot in the April 7, 2009 general election. In order to pass, a simple majority of qualified voters is required. All registered voters in the district will be allowed to vote on the proposal whether they own property or not. The deadline to register to vote is 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2009. To see if you are registered to vote, to find your polling location or to learn how to register to vote, visit the St. Louis Board of Elections website at
www.stlelections.com or call (314) 622-4336. Property owners who are not registered voters in the district must bring specific documentation to the polls (
click here for information). Non-resident property owners or registered voters can find their polling location by downloading the
CWE Southeast SBD precinct map.
Where can I get more information?
For more info, come to the community meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at Central West End Midtown Development, 12 N. Sarah St. You may also contact Dan Krasnoff, CWE Midtown Development Executive Director, at (314) 535-5311 or d.krasnoff@cwemd.org. Information is also available at
www.cwemd.org.
Sample Ballot
Shall the Central West End Southeast Special Business District, as established in Ordinance No. 63780, approved on May 31,1996, amended in Ordinance No. 64550, approved January 15, 1999, and amended by Ordinance 68236, approved on February 21, 2009, be authorized to impose a tax not to exceed $.43 per $100.00 valuation for the tax years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 on all real property located in the aforementioned Central West End Southeast Special Business District?
_____ Yes (for the proposition)
_____ No (against the proposition)
Letter from Harold Karabell
Map showing expanded boundaries
CWE Southeast Sample Tax Table
Map of CWE Special Business Districts
Public hearing notice
Board Bill 329
Board Bill 330
CWE Southeast Special Business District
CWE Neighborhood Security Initiative