Proposed Eureka, MO, Fire District's Tax Increase Fails for the Second Time

The proposed tax increase of 34 cents per $100 to fund the Eureka Fire District was rejected by nearly 40 percent of voters.

By Nassim Benchaabane

Source St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Aug. 9, 2025

For the second time, residents in the Eureka Fire Protection District have voted against a proposition to increase their fire protection services.

EUREKA — For the second time this year, voters in parts of St. Louis and Jefferson counties have rejected a property tax increase proposed by the area's firefighting district to pay for its services.

Proposition F would have authorized a tax increase of 34 cents per $100 to support fire services and district operations for the Eureka Fire Protection District.

The proposition failed by roughly 60%-40%, or 1,450-987 votes. The measure required a simple majority to pass.

The proposition previously failed to pass by just 10 votes in the April 8 municipal election.

The Eureka Fire district covers parts of St. Louis and Jefferson counties, including Eureka and parts of Wildwood and Pacific. Officials estimated the tax increase would have generated about $2.2 million more for the district annually.

The fire district currently levies a tax of $1.29 per $100 of assessed value. Had the tax increase passed, the owner of a home valued at $250,000 would have paid an additional $160 a year.