Fate of Proposition P Will Be Decided By St. Peters Voters Tuesday

Voters in  who take to the polls, today, Aug. 7 will get a chance to decide the fate of Proposition P.

Prop P is a four-tenths of a cent sales tax increase with the money going to fund parks and the storm water budget. With the city needing $119 million to fund more than 100 storm water projects for a federal program, an increase of revenue was needed. The current storm water fund of $600,000 a year is nowhere near the $3.9 million the city projects it needs yearly to fund the projects.

City staff considered three options: a property tax increase, an additional fee on utility bills or the sales tax increase. The city decided a four-tenths of a cent sales tax would be the way to go. Voters on Tuesday will get a chance to decide if they agree

The fourth-tenths of a cent tax increase adds up to four cents extra for every $10 spent in the city. In addition to the storm water, the money will also be used toward funding and maintaining the city's parks and the  and furthering the development of . 

Prop P is not without its critics. During an informational meeting, resident Warren Nauman was highly critical of the proposal. Nauman didn't like the fact that privately owned lakes in neighborhoods would be helped with the tax money.

"I strongly oppose using public money for private things," he said. 

Nauman also said that the taxes are getting to be too much. He worried about the impact it would have on businesses around St. Peters. 

Other readers on Patch agreed. : "[D]o those clowns at city hall really think we are gullible enough to believe that if we raise our sales tax to the same level as the highest surrounding areas, that people will drive from near and far to shop here and just to help us pay our bills? With the high fuel prices, they too will probably shop close to home. So, don't be misled, it is the residents who will be paying those higher taxes forever and the city will continue to spend frivolously.

Of course, other users on Patch supported Prop P.   "I have lived in St Peters over 31 years. I have watched our city grow and prosper. It has grown and prospered because we have grown and prospered. I truly believe that the city has been a good steward and spent our money with our welfare in mind. I for one am in favor of spending money to continue to improve our infrastructure." 

Both sides will have a chance to go to the polls today and vote. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

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