Ex-Chesterfield Mayor: 'Voters Are Sick and Tired of Paying Taxes'

Despite a public plea from Chesterfield's former Mayor Nancy Greenwood against a 1 percent sales tax hike for a proposed outlet stores mall in Chesterfield Valley, the City Council approved the measure 6-1 Monday night.

Councilman Barry Flaschbart voted no, saying he wanted a smaller percent tax.

Greenwood sent a letter to Council, that was read aloud during the public comment period of the city council meeting.

The approval of a Community Improvement District (CID) gives St. Louis Premium Outlets a $30 million cap in borrowing against future sales tax revenue to build the complex.

Here is the content of Greenwood's letter against the CID that allows for the tax hike. Consumers will pay 9.3 percent on the dollar at the outlet stores when open, instead of the current 8.3 percent sales tax in the area.

Mayor Geiger and Members of the City Council:

Most of you have made up your mind regarding granting a Community Improvement District (CID) for the discount mall. But, have you sought input from your constituents regarding their paying an additional 1% sales tax to "help" the developer? That IS the bottom line.

The term develop is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "to make more available and usable." Each of you was elected by the taxpayers of Chesterfield to represent them. At what point did it become "OKAY" to pass development costs on to taxpayers, rather than the developer pay? If a property does not have streets and sewers available—seek property that does have those improvements. Do NOT ask the shoppers to share the developer's cost. Development of land is considered the cost of doing business.

Chesterfield is providing a market that developers want. The arguments that have been made to support Chesterfield granting a CID are:

• The development will provide construction jobs—those only last as long as the land is being developed.
• Second, the discount mall will provide jobs—are these professional jobs that will be long lasting positions for your constituents as well as the region? Or are these jobs mostly part-time, hourly jobs?
• Third, the residual effect—are you taking shoppers from one area of Chesterfield and offering another venue—that is not creating new business—that is a shift and you are taking away from an area of Chesterfield that is just as vital and provides jobs as well.
• Fourth, it is estimated only 10% of the shoppers at the Discount Mall will be Chesterfield residents. Those are your constituents.

This discount mall will generate sales taxes with the present rate. Yes, you are a pool city and have to share. Please put your energy in generating your fair share of the current sales tax, rather than adding 1% for this development. To say, "if you don't like the tax, don't shop there" is absolute arrogance.

Voters are sick and tired of paying taxes. It is time for the City to say, ENOUGH. We will not burden our residents with helping to pay the cost of developing land in Chesterfield. Remember there isn't that much open space remaining. Be prudent.

Sincerely,
Nancy Greenwood, Former Mayor of Chesterfield