More good news rolls in for county taxpayers as political entities around the county continue to do a good job of rolling back rates in response to assessment increases. The early favorite for Senator Mike Gibbons‘ “Friend of the Taxpayer” award has to be the Maplewood-Richmond Heights school district, which has probably the largest tax cut I have seen as a result of assessment increases. They cut the residential rate by $1.35 per $100, and they even cut the personal property rate, which I am pretty sure they are not legally required to do. (Because personal property is not reassessed every two years like real property is, its rate does not have to be rolled back. What’s more, the tax is determined by blue-book value, which goes down every year unless you buy a new car.) That is great news for taxpayers in that area. Anyone who has been to Maplewood recently has seen the business explosion along Manchester, and the reduction in commercial tax rates will help keep that great business environment going!

Riternour School District also had a sizable tax cut this year. They deserve great credit for that, as it does not appear they were all that close to their cap — but they cut the rates substantially, nonetheless. The people of South County will benefit from a nice rate cut in Bayless School District as well. Now, if Bayless and Hancock Place school districts would just merge, we would be making some real progress for the taxpayers. But good for the Bayless School Board anyway! Finally, I am pleased to say that the University City Library Board, on which this author is priviledged to serve, has cut its 2007 tax rate, as well.

Senator Gibbons deserves tremendous credit for bringing pressure to bear on governmental bodies throughout Missouri, getting them to roll back their rates even when they are not legally required to do so. In my personal opinion, municipalities, school districts, etc., will greatly benefit from following both the letter and the spirit of the law. When government bodies roll back rates when assessments go up, whether or not they are required to do so, taxpayers will more likely trust them with new tax money if and when tax increases are truly needed by those districts.