Ambulance board files post-election appeal of judge's rewrite of ballot wording

April 30--ST. CHARLES COUNTY -- The St. Charles County Ambulance District has appealed a circuit judge's rewrite of the ballot wording for a tax increase proposition that voters rejected in the April 2 election.

"We need an understanding of what is allowed" for future elections, said district spokesman Marty Limpert. "The board wants to get a ruling on what is educational and what isn't."

Circuit Judge Ted House in February found that the ballot title and language submitted by the district board was "impermissibly biased."

House also said in his ruling that the board's ballot wording was "not a fair, impartial and neutral summary" and instead made arguments in favor of the tax proposal.

Limpert contended that other governmental districts have used similar language over the years.

The board on April 5, three days after the election, asked the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District to review the decision.

House said the impermissible ballot language included statements that the county's population is growing and aging, that the tax increase will prevent delays in response times to 911 calls and that this would be the first tax boost since the district was formed more than 38 years ago.

House, in his ruling on a lawsuit filed by district critic Arnie Dienoff, ordered new ballot language referring simply to the purpose of the district and the amount of the tax increase sought.

The judge also replaced the board's "Proposition Lifesavers" title with the phrase "Proposition E."

The failed proposition would have raised the property tax rate by 11 cents for each $100 assessed valuation. The district board's chairman has said the district may try again at another election.

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