Letters

City County Merger

January 12, 2014
To: news1@callnewspapers.com, letters@post-dispatch.com

In the fall I attended the City/County Merger Meeting in Clayton. I heard that the present proposal is that the County would actually become part of the City. Sadly, I can't think of one way this merger could benefit County residents.

Since the City crime rate is exponentially higher than the County's, auto and home insurance premiums for County residents would be sure to increase. Both personal property and real estate tax rates in the City, in addition to the 1% earnings and employer funded payroll tax. Would this cause some area businesses to move outside of the County?

According to 2010 US Census Quickfacts, the home ownership rate in the City is only 46.4% and it is 72.1% in the County. Can County residents look forward to paying a disproportionately higher share of even higher taxes? 26% of the people in the City live below the poverty level. The County-wide average is 9.7%. If the number of low income people in need of assistance increases substantially with a merger, will the County's needy residents have to wait even longer for help?

Our Mehlville school district already educates some students from the City's failing schools thru VIC and now even more students from Riverview Gardens District. If the City Schools are failing and we become part of that district, how long before our schools fail and where will we send our kids?

Right now in Oakville we are fortunate to even be in a position where we are able to help others in our area with their problems. However, we are not going to be in that position for long, if people keep trying to make us a part of those problems.

I think that most of the people in the County are very concerned about a possible City County merger. I think that your readers might appreciate more information on that subject as there are many questions left to be answered. I have heard that Executive Dooley indicated that he was actually for the merger. I have not heard Councilman Stenger take a position. I believe that Tony Pousosa is the only candidate running for County Executive who has actually come out against the merger. Perhaps you could have a reporter get an "official" position from each of the candidates. I have heard that the ultimate decision regarding the merger will be left up to the voters. Some have said that it would require a majority vote of City and County residents to pass. Others have said that it would be a State wide ballot.

Could you please report on

• who would be voting on this,
• what percentage would be needed to pass,
• and when it might be placed on the ballot?