Chesterfield asks voters to approve use tax for new aquatic center

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Chesterfield is asking voters to approve a use tax on purchases from out-of-state and online sellers to fund a new pool, joining other governments that are turning to consumers to pay for public services and projects.

The city is putting the question to voters on Election Day through Propositions A and Q.

Plan for a new aquatic center

City leadership has not funded the existing pool to reopen next summer. Leaders said the 30-year-old facility is not cost effective in its current state.

“There’s a lot of this facility that doesn’t work anymore,” said Elliot Brown, Assistant City Administrator of Chesterfield. “The fountains aren’t spraying as high as they used to because they are leaking into the ground. In fact, our lazy river alone leaks over 27,000 gallons of water per day. That’s about a decent-size backyard pool.”

Brown said the repairing the existing facility would not be cost effective.

“We could tear every slab out of this place, find every pipe under the ground that’s been put together with bubble gum and duct tape over the last 30 years, or we could tear it all out and put in brand new, top-of-the-line facilities,” Brown said.

Chesterfield is building new. Plans call for a $34.5 million aquatic center. The project also would include a 5,000-square-foot indoor multipurpose facility for the Parks Department to run programming throughout the year.

What Props A and Q would do

Prop A would authorize the city to issue $34.5 million in general obligation bonds to finance construction of the proposed aquatic center.

“If Prop A passes on its own, that would result in an annual property tax of the residents of Chesterfield,” Brown said. “Right now it’s an estimate because you have to actually sell the bonds and put them in the market to figure out interest rates and all that, but it’s looking to be about $72 for the median household in Chesterfield every year for 20 years.”

If Prop Q also is approved, homeowners would not see a property tax increase.

“If Prop Q passes, the city would institute a use tax, a sales tax on non-point-of-sale, out-of-state retailers,” said Brown.

Residents share mixed views

The use tax has become a topic of debate recently. Chesterfield residents have mixed feelings about using it to pay for a new pool.

“Anything that makes things better, I’m for it,” one resident said.

Another resident said, “For me personally, anything that says I want more money out of your pocket, it’s a hard no.”

St. Louis County voters rejected use tax

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page has been pushing for a use tax, but voters have rejected the idea. Most recently, in August, 65% of voters said no to the tax.

Brown said Chesterfield’s proposal differs from the county’s.

“It’s the same taxing mechanism, but the city of Chesterfield is agreeing to, promising to dedicate the proceeds to a specific purpose, whereas St. Louis County was just going to throw it in the general fund,” Brown said.

Elliot Brown, Chesterfield’s assistant administrator, said the use tax is an alternative to raising property taxes to fund a project such as a new municipal pool.

“Usually it’s just, ‘Hey, give us the money, we’ll spend it every year,’ but this is an opportunity for the public to pick one or the other. This is rare.”

Brown said it will be up to the City Council on how to move forward if one of the propositions passes and the other doesn’t.