Exploring the perfect storm of funding problems

MSD annexed the area west of 270 and west of Lindbergh in 1977. Households out there only pay the flat rate and the 2 cents per $100 of assessed value. There is no money available in this region for capital projects, and the funds raised are barely enough to meet increasing regulatory requirements, much less maintenance. Some areas within MSD’s original service boundary are in what are called OMCI (operations, maintenance and capital improvement) districts. These districts can charge up to an additional 10 cents per $100 of assessed value. In addition to providing more funding for MSD’s required duties, these dollars are available for capital improvements. However – they can only be spent in the area they were raised. So even if a district has more cash than it can spend, it can’t share the wealth. In addition to the flat fee, and the 2 cent tax, residents in MSD’s original service area, which included the city and areas in the county east of 270 and east of Lindbergh, pay a tax of 5 cents per every $100 of assessed property value. This provides additional funding for those three duties (management, regulation, maintenance), but not for capital improvements. Everyone... in the MSD service area (yellow, green and red) pays a monthly 24 cent flat charge. Owners of multi-unit buildings pay 18 cents per unit per month. In addition, everyone pays 2 cents per $100 of assessed value on their property tax bill. This funds MSD’s three main stormwater duties – management of stormwater, regulatory compliance, and inspection and maintenance of infrastructure like inlets, sewers and manhole covers. Zoom in and out or click to discover different characteristics of each MSD service area. Map: Courtesy of Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Graphic: Kelsey Proud and Rachel Lippmann / St. Louis Public Radio