The Affton Board of Education unanimously approved the 2024 tax rate of $4.9284 at its Sept. 17 meeting. This includes a voluntary tax rollback of 35 cents, reducing the tax burden by approximately $2.15 million for 2024. 

“Affton School District and the Board of Education remain committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency with our community,” Affton School District superintendent Travis Bracht stated in a press release. “While the district’s tax rate will adjust slightly due to increased assessed property valuations, we are maintaining the 35-cent rollback that has been in place since 2017. This ongoing effort reflects our dedication to easing the tax burden for Affton residents while ensuring we have the necessary resources to support our students, staff, and key initiatives that keep our schools and community thriving.”

Assessed valuations for 2024 decreased by 1.9%, or $7.4 million, from 2023. As annual fluctuations in the tax rate are correlated to changes in assessed valuations, the tax rates for 2024 – $4.9284 – increased $0.0905 from 2023’s tax rates of $4.8379. 

The district said it “will continue to pursue competitive pay and benefits in an effort to retain and attract exceptional and qualified employees,” including a pay increase of approximately 8.66% for certified employees. Additional steps will be awarded to teachers for prior experience served in other districts as well. 

The district has invested $5 million in capital improvements throughout the district in the current school year. A new long-term building improvement plan was recently approved by the district, including the modernization of current buildings through updated libraries and learning spaces. Work has already begun on many of the projects included in the new plan, including a new cafeteria and kitchen at Affton High School, and some accessibility improvements throughout the buildings. 

The new rates per $100 assessed valuation are: 

• Residential real estate – $4.0830 (increase of $0.1634 from last year)
• Commercial real estate – $$4.9235 (increase of $0.0469 from last year)
• Personal property – $5.6669 (no change from last year)
• Blended rate – $4.4384 (increase of $0.0905 from last year)

The blended rate is not levied, but used for to compare the district to others in the state.