EDUCATIONAL POST/INFORMATION SHARE

IMPACT to Fire Protection Districts, School Districts, Ambulance Districts, General Revenue -- Any MO entity that receives revenue based on Residential Property Taxes.

The Sedgewickville Fire Protection District is committed to protecting lives and property while maintaining responsible stewardship of local taxpayer resources.

The Missouri General Assembly passed Senate Bill 3 (SB3) in June 2025, which may require Bollinger County to place a measure on an upcoming 2026 ballot regarding a five percent (5%) cap on residential property tax liability.

Reach out to your Commissioners or the Bollinger County Clerk for details of current standing on SB3.

What we know:

Residential property taxes typically represent around 30 percent (30%) of a fire protection district’s total aggregate assessed property valuation and are one of the primary sources of funding for apparatus, stations, and equipment for protecting lives and property.

SFPD is already subject to the Hancock Amendment to the Missouri State Constitution, which requires the mandatory rolling back of property tax levy rates when property tax assessments rise, and the implementation of SB3 would create a tightening of revenue that permanently erodes the District’s local funding base.

SB3 has no clear exemption for any future debt service levy for stations, station improvements, and/or apparatus, potentially endangering Our ability to maintain its credit rating and satisfy future voter-approved bond obligations.

Current fiscal projections indicate that the passage of this measure could result in a significant cumulative revenue loss over the ensuing fiscal years.

We, SFPD, expresses grave concern regarding the long-term impact of Senate Bill 3 on the District’s ability to protect lives and property using apparatus, stations, and equipment, especially due to the inflationary cost of apparatus, stations, and equipment.

As we learn more, continue to watch for additional education and information sharing posts to ensure that voters of the District are fully informed on this matter.