The CWE South Special Business District is primarily funded through a yearly tax on commercial and residential property owners collected by the City of St. Louis. The maximum assessed tax rate is 85 cents per $100 assessed property value, with a cap of $7,000 per property. However, because Missouri state law limits the District's revenue growth, the 2008 tax rate has been rolled back to 54.04 cents per $100 assessed property value. The District expects to collect about $145,000 in 2008 tax revenues to be used for the 2009 fiscal year.
Services
Eighty percent of tax revenues collected by the CWE South Special Business District are directed toward security related projects and services. The district hires Hi-Tech Security to patrol the district nightly. Additional funds are used for street lighting, maintenance services, signage and other infrastructure improvements designed to benefit the district.
Board of Commissioners
The CWE South Special Business District Board of Commissioners consists of seven members, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Aldermen. Five members must be property owners or their representatives, and two members must be renters. Each member serves a four-year term. No employee or elected official of the City may be a member of the Board of Commissioners.
History
The CWE South Special Business District was established in 1987 by a majority of district voters. Since its original authorization, the District has been amended to alter its boundaries. The District does not expire.
Meetings
The CWE South Special Business District meets at noon the third Wednesday on even numbered months at Central West End Midtown Development, 12 N. Sarah St. If you’d like to attend a meeting, please call 535-5311 or email us to confirm the meeting will be held as scheduled.