The Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors unanimously set its 2021 tax rate — which governs how much taxpayers pay in their property taxes due Dec. 31 — at a Sept. 29 tax-rate hearing. 

The MFPD has a blended tax rate of 60 cents per $100 assessed valuation, a roughly 2-cent decrease from the 62-cent blended tax rate set by the board in 2019. The blended rate is not levied. 

Assessed values in the district saw a 7.33-percent increase over 2020, with a $171 million increase in real estate assessed values and a $35 million increase in personal property assessed values. 

The approved 2021 tax rates per $100 of assessed valuation: 

• Residential real estate — $0.521

• Commercial real estate — $0.711

• Agricultural real estate — $0.959 

• Personal property — $0.868 

The 2021 tax rates project $18.12 million for fiscal year 2022. The county will retain 1.5 percent, resulting in $17.85 million for district use. 

“Our revenues are never going to provide us with a huge financial windfall even when assessed values increase substantially. The Hancock Amendment restricts what a political subdivision can recognize as an increase in revenue,” Chief Financial Officer Brian Bond said. 

The amendment prevents agencies from receiving a financial windfall if assessed values increase. Growth is restricted to inflation and the consumer price index. 

Compared to the previous year, residential tax rates decreased 3.4 cents and agricultural increased 5.7 cents, with less than a penny change in commercial and no change in personal property. 

“It most likely means we will continue to be the lowest tax rate of all fire protection districts in St. Louis County,” Bond said.