PROP. A.L.S.
F.A.Q.'S
F.A.Q.'s are Frequently Asked Questions.
Please click on the Red question to get the answer in Blue.
PROP. A.L.S.
F.A.Q.'S
F.A.Q.'s are Frequently Asked Questions.
Please click on the Red question to get the answer in Blue.
What is Proposition ALS?
Proposition ALS is an additional thirty-one ($0.31) cent tax per one hundred dollars assessed valuation for the General fund, in order to provide families and businesses with enhanced life-saving medical services which meet and adhere to the national standard of care as it pertains to providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) services, to provide funding to sustain emergency operations and retain qualified and experienced Firefighters/Paramedics.
What is “ALS”?
Advanced Life Support (ALS) refers to a set of life-saving protocols and medical techniques used by firefighters/paramedics to provide critical care during emergencies. ALS goes beyond Basic Life Support (BLS) by utilizing advanced medical procedures to support a patient's breathing and circulation, stabilize vital functions, and treat potentially life-threatening conditions.
Key components of ALS include:
ALS is typically performed by paramedics, firefighters, nurses, and physicians in emergency settings, such as during cardiac arrests, trauma incidents, or severe medical conditions. It plays a critical role in improving patient survival and outcomes in emergencies.
Key components of ALS include:
- Airway management: Intubation and other advanced techniques to ensure a patient has a clear airway.
- Cardiac monitoring and defibrillation: Continuous monitoring of heart rhythms and the use of defibrillators to correct arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation.
- Medication administration: Use of drugs such as epinephrine, atropine, and others to manage conditions like cardiac arrest, shock, or severe allergic reactions.
- IV/IO access: Establishing intravenous (IV) or intraosseous (IO) lines to deliver medications or fluids quickly.
- Respiratory support: Use of advanced equipment like bag-valve masks or mechanical ventilators to assist or control breathing.
ALS is typically performed by paramedics, firefighters, nurses, and physicians in emergency settings, such as during cardiac arrests, trauma incidents, or severe medical conditions. It plays a critical role in improving patient survival and outcomes in emergencies.
Will Prop ALS improve safety?
Yes. Proposition ALS will allow us to train our firefighters and paramedics to perform advanced life support (ALS) to national standards. Right now, the Lake St. Louis Fire Protection District only performs basic life support (BLS).
Currently, our firefighters perform BLS until a paramedic trained in ALS arrives on scene.
If our firefighters and paramedics are trained in ALS we will be able to provide life-saving care faster.
Currently, our firefighters perform BLS until a paramedic trained in ALS arrives on scene.
If our firefighters and paramedics are trained in ALS we will be able to provide life-saving care faster.
What is Basic life support (BLS)?
Basic life support (BLS) refers to the level of medical care used in emergencies to maintain a person's airway, support breathing, and assist circulation without the use of advanced medical equipment or techniques. BLS focuses on sustaining life until more advanced care can be provided and is often the first step in managing life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, or choking.
BLS can be provided by healthcare professionals, first responders, and laypeople who are trained in these techniques. It’s a crucial first step in emergency care that significantly improves a person’s chance of survival before advanced care, like Advanced Life Support (ALS), is available.
BLS can be provided by healthcare professionals, first responders, and laypeople who are trained in these techniques. It’s a crucial first step in emergency care that significantly improves a person’s chance of survival before advanced care, like Advanced Life Support (ALS), is available.
Will Firefighter/Paramedics benefit form Prop. ALS?
Yes. Prop ALS will allow us to establish new programs to attract and retain Firefighter/Paramedics who can be assured that they will be employed by a district with a stable budget.
What is the need for Prop ALS?
Our professional accountant has informed us with the current/future economic outlook, legal mandated income reductions due to the Missouri’s Hancock amendment, and future legal mandates that our reserve funds will be empty in 3.5-4 years. We are expected to keep a reserve to function and operate in the event of a major incident. We are currently using reserves for day-to-day operations.
While addressing our budget issues we also know it is crucial to improve our level of care up to the national standard. In order to do that our firefighters and paramedics need ALS (Advanced Life Support) training.
Advanced life saving interventions are a set of life-saving protocols and medical techniques used by healthcare professionals to provide critical care during emergencies. ALS goes beyond Basic Life Support (BLS) by utilizing advanced medical procedures to support a patient's breathing and circulation, stabilize vital functions, and treat potentially life-threatening conditions. By having the training and equipment to provide ALS services will greatly benefit the citizens we serve.
We currently hold a BLS,(Basic Life Support) which only allows our staff to perform the basic interventions.
If this proposition does not pass, we won’t be able to perform any of these interventions and our budget will continue to operate using reserve funds until they are completely empty.
The district needs you support on this proposition the increase our ability to save lives, to fix our budget in order to sustain our current services and to establish programs to Recruit future and Retain current Firefighter/Paramedics.
While addressing our budget issues we also know it is crucial to improve our level of care up to the national standard. In order to do that our firefighters and paramedics need ALS (Advanced Life Support) training.
Advanced life saving interventions are a set of life-saving protocols and medical techniques used by healthcare professionals to provide critical care during emergencies. ALS goes beyond Basic Life Support (BLS) by utilizing advanced medical procedures to support a patient's breathing and circulation, stabilize vital functions, and treat potentially life-threatening conditions. By having the training and equipment to provide ALS services will greatly benefit the citizens we serve.
We currently hold a BLS,(Basic Life Support) which only allows our staff to perform the basic interventions.
If this proposition does not pass, we won’t be able to perform any of these interventions and our budget will continue to operate using reserve funds until they are completely empty.
The district needs you support on this proposition the increase our ability to save lives, to fix our budget in order to sustain our current services and to establish programs to Recruit future and Retain current Firefighter/Paramedics.
What is the Fire Districts Tax Levy?
Our tax income is broken into 3 different dedicated purposed taxes and none of them are allowed by law to intermingle.
They are as follows:
In total our current tax rate is set at: $0.7622.
General Fund: $0.5410
Capital Projects (bond): $0.20
Pension: $0.0212
Why voter approved tax rates have been rolled back?
The Hancock rule rolls back a tax rate based on the growth of the taxing entity. This law has rolled back in our district in 2 of the 3 taxes we have.
General Fund- $0.84 (Voters Approved= 1972-$.024, 1986-$0.25, 2008-$0.17 & 2016-$0.18)
Capital Projects (Bond)- $0.20 – (2016)
Pension- $0.03 – (1983)
Current Tax Rates Historic Roll Back
General Fund: $0.5410 $0.299
Capital Projects (bond): $0.20 $0- Not subject to Hancock
Pension: $0.0212 $0.0088
What we’re requesting is to get back to what was already approved by you in past elections.
2016 to Present Tax Rates
Resolution # Total Rate General Fund Pension Debt Serv
2016-08 0.7369 0.7093 0.0276 0.0
2017-03 0.9101 0.6835 0.0266 0.20
2018-05 0.9101 0.6835 0.0267 0.1981
2019-01 0.8612 0.6364 0.0248 0.20
2020-05 0.8612 0.6364 0.0248 0.20
2021-06 0.8315 0.6077 0.0238 0.20
2022-07 0.8315 0.6077 0.0238 0.20
2023-02 0.7595 0.5384 0.0211 0.20
They are as follows:
- General Revenue: The main tax and it is for salaries, bills, Insurance, some equipment purchases. (what Prop ALS will go towards)
- Capital Projects (bond): This is what the community approved in 2016 to build a new station, the current fleet of our fire and support vehicles. This is for major purchases needed for the district and can only be used for that purpose. This is an expiring tax that once the amount is paid back, the tax will be eliminated unless it is renewed.
- Pension: Back in the early 1980’s, when we only had 1-2 paid staff, the community voted to fund a pension for the members of the district. Even though the district size has grown in staff, this has never changed.
In total our current tax rate is set at: $0.7622.
General Fund: $0.5410
Capital Projects (bond): $0.20
Pension: $0.0212
Why voter approved tax rates have been rolled back?
The Hancock rule rolls back a tax rate based on the growth of the taxing entity. This law has rolled back in our district in 2 of the 3 taxes we have.
General Fund- $0.84 (Voters Approved= 1972-$.024, 1986-$0.25, 2008-$0.17 & 2016-$0.18)
Capital Projects (Bond)- $0.20 – (2016)
Pension- $0.03 – (1983)
Current Tax Rates Historic Roll Back
General Fund: $0.5410 $0.299
Capital Projects (bond): $0.20 $0- Not subject to Hancock
Pension: $0.0212 $0.0088
What we’re requesting is to get back to what was already approved by you in past elections.
2016 to Present Tax Rates
Resolution # Total Rate General Fund Pension Debt Serv
2016-08 0.7369 0.7093 0.0276 0.0
2017-03 0.9101 0.6835 0.0266 0.20
2018-05 0.9101 0.6835 0.0267 0.1981
2019-01 0.8612 0.6364 0.0248 0.20
2020-05 0.8612 0.6364 0.0248 0.20
2021-06 0.8315 0.6077 0.0238 0.20
2022-07 0.8315 0.6077 0.0238 0.20
2023-02 0.7595 0.5384 0.0211 0.20
What will be the average monthly cost to a homeowner to enhance life-saving capabilities?
The average monthly cost would be $16.34.
What will the average homeowner pay?
According to the St. Charles County Assessor’s office in August of 2024, the average market value of a house in the LSLPFD is $327,420. This is based off the current assessments which is from 2023.
The county uses 19% of the Market Value for Assessed Value. This amount is what is taxed per the cent set. So, for the assessed value for this average is $62,209.80. The annual increase for this exact house would be $192.54 annually, $16.34 monthly or $0.52 Daily.
To get the amount of increase that this ballet initiative would increase for your individual case, please use the following equation:
Example using Average
Market Value of the property $327,420
Multiply times 0.19 (The percent to get assessed value) $62,209.80
Divide by 100 622.098
Multiply times 0.31 (The cent of increase) $192.85 (Per Year)
Divide by 12 (Monthly) $16.07 (Per Month)
or 365 (Daily) $0.53 (Per Day)
Other pre-calculated figures:
Market Value Yearly Monthly Daily
200,000 $117.80 $9.82 $0.32
250,000 $147.25 $12.27 $0.40
300,000 $176.70 $14.73 $0.48
350,000 $206.15 $17.18 $0.56
400,000 $235.60 $19.63 $0.65
450,000 $265.05 $22.09 $0.73
500,000 $294.50 $24.54 $0.81
The county uses 19% of the Market Value for Assessed Value. This amount is what is taxed per the cent set. So, for the assessed value for this average is $62,209.80. The annual increase for this exact house would be $192.54 annually, $16.34 monthly or $0.52 Daily.
To get the amount of increase that this ballet initiative would increase for your individual case, please use the following equation:
Example using Average
Market Value of the property $327,420
Multiply times 0.19 (The percent to get assessed value) $62,209.80
Divide by 100 622.098
Multiply times 0.31 (The cent of increase) $192.85 (Per Year)
Divide by 12 (Monthly) $16.07 (Per Month)
or 365 (Daily) $0.53 (Per Day)
Other pre-calculated figures:
Market Value Yearly Monthly Daily
200,000 $117.80 $9.82 $0.32
250,000 $147.25 $12.27 $0.40
300,000 $176.70 $14.73 $0.48
350,000 $206.15 $17.18 $0.56
400,000 $235.60 $19.63 $0.65
450,000 $265.05 $22.09 $0.73
500,000 $294.50 $24.54 $0.81
When is the election?
Proposition ALS will be on the November 5th election ballot. In-person early voting begins on October 22.
Where can I get additional Information about registration or Absentee Ballots?
Go to the St. Charles County Election Authority website at: https://www.sccmo.org/447/Absentee-Voting or call 636-949-7550
Where can I register to Vote?
You are able to register to vote online in Missouri here: https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register
Questions on registering to vote, call: 573-751-2301
Questions on registering to vote, call: 573-751-2301
