2008 SOURCES OF INCOME AND REVENUE - BUDGETED FUNDS

The main source of revenue for St. Louis County is taxes – 62.9% of all income and revenue.
Taxes break down into six types, (1) Property Tax (23.4%), (2) Sales Tax (9.5%), (3) Sales
Tax – Sleeping Rooms (1.9%), (4) Transportation Sales Tax (23.1%), (5) Utilities Gross
Receipts Tax (4.8%), and (5) Cigarette Tax (0.2%).

2008 Estimated Revenues ‐ All Budgeted Funds
(9)
(8) 5%
(7) 8%
5%
(6)
7%
(5)
2%
(1)
63%
(4)
1%
(3)
6% (2)
3%

(1) Taxes (2) Licenses & Permits
(3) Assessment & Tax Fees (4) Fees Fines & Forfeitures
(5) Rents & Investment Earnings (6) Intergovernmental
(7) Fuel Sales (8) Charges for Services

  2006 2007 % 2008 %  % of

Revenue Category  Actual Estimated Change Estimated  Change  2008 Total
General Property Tax  110,807,916  121,920,297  10.0% 121,920,297  0.0%  23.4%
Sales Tax (1¢ and Metro Parks)  48,061,545  48,950,000  1.8% 49,396,000  0.9%  9.5%
Sales Tax ‐ Sleeping Rooms  9,553,598  9,630,000  0.8% 9,726,300  1.0%  1.9%
Transportation Sales Tax  116,615,776  119,300,000  2.3% 120,400,000  0.9%  23.1%
Utilities Gross Receipts Tax 22,261,172  23,990,832  7.8% 24,935,900  3.9%  4.8%
State Cigarette Tax  1,150,648  1,075,648  (6.5%) 1,054,135  (2.0%)  0.2%
Licenses & Permits  13,705,396  14,126,743  3.1% 14,127,790  0.0%  2.7%
Assessment & Tax Fees  29,151,958  30,716,600  5.4% 31,494,450  2.5%  6.0%
Fines & Forfeitures  4,027,472  4,017,607  (0.2%) 3,965,632  (1.3%)  0.8%
Rents & Investment Earnings  13,780,311  12,413,802  (9.9%) 13,509,563  8.8%  2.6%
Intergovernmental  34,188,330  27,490,481  (19.6%) 37,422,010  36.1%  7.2%
Fuel Sales and Taxes  22,309,106  24,500,000  9.8% 25,630,224  4.6%  4.9%
Charges for Services  39,757,415  40,042,479  0.7% 41,046,667  2.5%  7.9%
Fees and Other Revenue  27,219,223  36,553,004  34.3% 26,806,263  (26.7%)  5.1%
Total Revenues  492,589,866  514,727,493  4.5% 521,435,231  1.3%  100.0%
Revenue Trends
Revenues have been increasing since 2004; however growth has been more modest than
what was seen during the late 1990’s. All funds revenue is estimated to increase 4.5% in 2007
and another 1.3% in 2008.

All Funds Revenue History:  1996‐2008 (Estimated)
$550.0
$500.0
$ in Millions

$450.0
$400.0
$350.0
$300.0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007  2008 
EST EST
Fiscal Year

The expected growth in 2007 is driven by a 10% estimated increase in property tax revenue
and smaller increases in gross receipts and fuel sales revenues. The 2007 estimate also
includes a $6 million one-time revenue from the sale of property. While this improves the
County’s financial situation in 2007, these are not revenues that will continue to grow. Gross
receipts tax revenues increase as the result of a court settlement that released escrowed
receipts that had built up over a two year period. Finally, general sales tax, which accounts for
approximately 10% of our total revenues, continues to range from a 1% increase to a 2%
decrease each year.

Revenue growth in 2008 is due to anticipated sales tax growth of 1%, and nearly 5% growth in
fuel sales at the Spirit of St. Louis airport.

Revenues by Source:  2005‐2008 (Estimated)
$350.0

$300.0

$250.0
$ in Millions

$200.0

$150.0

$100.0

$50.0

$0.0
Taxes Assessment & Tax Fees Rents & Investment  Fuel Sales Fees and Other Revenu
Earnings

2005 2006 2007 EST 2008 EST

Property Taxation
Property tax is determined by the assessed value of your property and the tax rate.

Missouri State statute has established a two-year reassessment cycle with reassessment of all
real property in odd-numbered years.

The tax rate is set by the elected officials of the local governments that have jurisdiction where
your property is located. The rate is based on the amount of funds needed to operate the
governments. Taxes are levied on all taxable real and personal property owned as of January
1st in each year. By statute, tax bills are to be mailed in October. Payment of taxes is due by
December 31st, after which they become delinquent and accrue a penalty of one percent per
month.

2007 Average Residential Tax Rates

Service Districts Other
18% 20%

Cities
St. Louis County
5%
7%

School Districts
50%

The County Collector of Revenue collects taxes for most taxing districts in the County.
Citizen’s property tax bills include not only County property taxes, but also school district taxes,
city taxes, service district taxes and other special district taxes. While these taxes are
collected by the County, they are distributed to the various taxing districts and are not a part of
the County tax rate.

The 2008 tax rate for St. Louis County has been recommended at $.558 per $100 of assessed
valuation, $.495 for the General Funds and $.063 for the Debt Service Fund.
Historical Property Tax Information

Tax Rate History
$0.585 
$0.580 
$0.575 
$0.570 
Rate

$0.565 
$0.560 
$0.555 
$0.550 
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Assessed Value History
$26.0
$24.0
$22.0
$ in Billions

$20.0
$18.0
$16.0
$14.0
$12.0
$10.0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Property Tax Revenues
$130.0
$120.0
$110.0
$ in Millions

$100.0
$90.0
$80.0
$70.0
$60.0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007  2008 
(Est) (Est)

Year
Sales Tax
The County has several distinct sales tax revenue streams. The main sales tax accounts and
historical collections are show below.

Sales Tax Revenues:  1996‐2008 (Estimated)
$140.0

$120.0

$100.0
$ in Millions

$80.0

$60.0

$40.0

$20.0

$0.0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007E 2008E
Year

Sales Tax (1¢ and Metro Parks) Sales Tax ‐ Sleeping Rooms Transportation Sales Tax Utilities Gross Receipts Tax 

As reflected in the above graph, sales tax receipts have flattened out and in some cases
decreased since 2001. The increase in 2001 was mostly related to the addition of the Metro
Parks Tax.

There are several assumptions as to why this has happened. On a macro level, the whole
County saw a decrease in growth in the economy starting in 2001. One major issue is that
Internet sales do not generate sales tax and more and more purchasing is being carried out on
the Internet. A second possible cause is that consumers seem to be shifting their spending
from goods to services. Another cause may be legislative intervention by way of exemptions
for certain industries or products.

Whatever the cause, the result is that although sales tax remains a major revenue source for
St. Louis County it can no longer be thought of as a way to increase services unless new sales
taxes are imposed.

The County’s primary general operating sales tax is a 1.0 cent tax on retail sales that is
Countywide and shared with municipalities. The County’s share of this sales tax is based on
population. This tax is deposited into the General Government Fund and transferred, as
needed, to the Park Maintenance Fund.
The Metro Parks sales tax of .10 cent was approved by voters in April of 2001. This
Countywide sales tax on retail sales is shared with the City of St. Louis and the Metro Parks
District. It is primary used for construction projects within the County parks. This is the only
sales tax in the County that exempts food from the tax. This tax is deposited into the Park
Maintenance Fund.

Sales Tax – Sleeping Rooms is a 3.5% tax on the amount of sales for all sleeping rooms paid
by transient guests of hotels and motels in the County. This tax is deposited into the
Convention and Recreation Trust Fund and is used meet St. Louis County’s obligations for the
rent, fees or charges payable for the regional convention and sports complex and the
Cardinals Ballpark stadium bonds. Excess collections above these obligations can be
appropriated for regional convention and recreational development.

The Transportation Sales Tax consists of: (1) a Countywide .25 cent sales tax on retail sales
that is deposited into the Public Mass Transit Fund and transferred to the Bi-State
Development Agency (Metro) to be used for mass transit operations and development. None
of these funds are retained by the County; and (2) a .50 cent sales tax on retail sales that is
deposited into the Transportation Trust Fund and used for road and bridge projects and
support for Metro.

Utilities Gross Receipts tax is a tax levied on utilities; electric, gas, telephone and water. There
has been quite a bit of controversy for the last few years regarding Utilities Gross Receipts tax
and cellular telephone companies. Until there is State legislation defining the proper taxation
of these companies, this tax will fluctuate and be difficult to project. This tax is deposited into
the General Government funds and supports the Police Department.
Revenues by Fund Type

General Funds
The General Funds (General Fund, Special Road and Bridge Fund, Health Fund and Parks
Fund) rely on taxes for just over half of their funding. While revenues decreased in 2002 and
2003, St. Louis County did not experience the same severity of problems as those found in
other communities. The diversity of income sources and healthy fund balances allowed the
County to continue most existing services.

2008 Revenue Estimate ‐ General Funds
(9)
(8) 6%
5%
(7)
13%

(6) (1)
5% 56%
(5)
2%
(4)
1% (3)
7%
(2)
5%
(1) Taxes (2) Licenses & Permits (3) Assessment & Tax Fees
(4) Fees Fines and Forfeitures (5) Rents & Investment Earnings (6) Intergovernmental
(7) Charges for Services (8) Fees and Other Revenue (9)Allocations and Transfers

2006 2007 % 2008 % % of

Revenue Category Actual Estimated Change Estimated Change 2008 Total
General Property Tax 95,158,685 104,715,199 10.0% 104,715,199 0.0% 32.6%
Sales Tax (1¢ and Metro Parks) 48,061,545 48,950,000 1.8% 49,396,000 0.9% 15.4%
Utilities Gross Receipts Tax 22,261,172 23,990,832 7.8% 24,935,900 3.9% 7.8%
State Cigarette Tax 1,150,648 1,075,648 (6.5%) 1,054,135 (2.0%) 0.3%
Licenses & Permits 13,705,396 14,126,743 3.1% 14,127,790 0.0% 4.4%
Assessment & Tax Fees 20,777,015 22,216,600 6.9% 22,739,450 2.4% 7.1%
Fines & Forfeitures 4,027,472 4,017,607 (0.2%) 3,965,632 (1.3%) 1.2%
Rents & Investment Earnings 6,134,397 6,466,800 5.4% 6,600,656 2.1% 2.1%
Intergovernmental 20,636,159 16,940,481 (17.9%) 17,023,010 0.5% 5.3%
Charges for Services 39,497,785 39,792,479 0.7% 40,796,667 2.5% 12.7%
Fees and Other Revenue 17,452,473 22,691,569 30.0% 15,984,903 (29.6%) 5.0%
Allocations & Transfers In 20,362,832 18,260,607 (10.3%) 20,265,000 11.0% 6.3%
Total Revenues 309,225,579 323,244,565 4.5% 321,604,342 (0.5%) 100.0%
Revenues by Fund Type
Special Revenue Funds
Special Revenue Funds have several funding sources that relate solely to the mission of that
particular fund. Revenues that support each fund are legally restricted to expenditure for a
particular purpose. These revenue sources are explained within each fund’s detail section.

Special Revenue Funds
2008 Estimated Income & Revenues
Fees and Other 
Revenue Sales Tax ‐ Sleeping 
26% Rooms
33%
Charges for Services
1%
Intergovernmental
8%

Rents & Investment 
Earnings Assessment & Tax Fees
3% 29%

Debt Service Fund

The Debt Service Fund is used to pay annual principal and interest payments of the County’s
general obligation debt. The fund is supported by a separate property tax levy and investment
earnings on that tax.

Enterprise Funds
Enterprise funds are used to account for operations that are financed and operated in a
manner similar to private business. The County has only one enterprise fund, the Spirit of St.
Louis Airport. The airport operations are financed primarily from fuel sales and facility leases.

Spirit of St. Louis Airport Fund
2008 Estimated Income and Revenues

Rents and Investment 
Earnings
9%
Fuel Sales and Taxes
Fees and Other  88%
Revenue
3%
Public Mass Transit Fund
The Public Mass Transit Fund is supported by a Countywide .25 cent sales tax on retail sales.
All funds collected are transferred to the Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) to be used for
mass transit operations and development. None of these funds are retained by the County.

Highway Capital Construction Program Funds

The two Highway Capital Construction funds are primarily supported by a transfer from the
Transportation Trust fund, a .50 cent sales tax on retail sales and Federal grants.

Highway Capital Construction Program
2008 Estimated Income and Revenues
Rents and Investment  Intergovernmental
Earnings 52%
8%

Allocations and 
Transfers In Fees and Other 
34% Revenue
6%