Wow, the Kirkwood School Board has given the full-out brushoff to hometown state Senator Mike Gibbons by passing a measly 4-cent-per-dollar cut in its property tax rate after a reassessment season that saw a 22-percent increase in assessments within the district. It could have been worse, I guess — they could have followed the lead of Ladue schools and not cut it at all — but still, this is going to lead to significant tax increases for the people of the district. The 4 cents only represents a 1 percent cut in the rate, so the average Kirkwood homeowner will see a 21-percent tax increase for the schools.
Over there across Berry Road, the Webster Groves School District did a great job for its taxpayers by rolling its rates back by 65 cents per dollar. Now, WG was basically at its cap, so most of this was required, but as we have said before, a rate cut is a rate cut and everyone who does it deserves credit. I think Senator Gibbons might be rooting for the Statesmen over the Pioneers next Thanksgiving.
Finally, the areawide St. Louis Community College District rolled its rates back by more than 2 cents per dollar (about 10 percent) in response to reassessment as well. That is good news for taxpayers throughout the St. Louis area, and I commend them for the rollback.
