Fact 1:
More ambulances are needed

Monarch operates four ambulances serving more than 80,000 residents in 62.7 square miles. Our District continues to grow and, while the number of ambulances has remained the same, emergency medical service call volume has doubled since 2000. Because of this, it can take an ambulance more than 10 minutes to arrive at an emergency. This is longer than the national standard of six minutes. The District often cannot meet the demand for timely ambulance service and must rely on help from neighboring fire districts such as those in St. Charles, Maryland Heights and Ballwin.

Prop A would allow the Monarch Fire Protection District to add two ambulances and the firefighter/paramedics to operate them. This will make emergency responses faster. During an emergency saving time means saving lives.

One ambulance will be located at Station #2 (18424 Wild Horse Creek Rd, Wildwood, MO 63005), where there is no ambulance today and the second ambulance will be located at Station #1 (15700 Baxter Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017) to provide coverage to the busiest part of our fire district.

Fact 2:
Quality emergency services protect lives and property

When you call 911, you expect life-saving help to arrive quickly. The reason the Monarch Fire Protection District was established was to provide emergency help when needed. That is essential to the fabric of our community and everyone who lives here.

As our community grows, our fire district needs to grow too. Today, growth-driven demand for emergency services is outpacing the district’s ability to respond. The result is slower response times and reduced service levels compared to neighboring districts — service that you and your family may need some day.Prop. A would provide funding to improve response times, add ambulances, ensure adequate staffing by firefighter/paramedics and maintain and update emergency equipment and supplies so services can meet the needs of our growing community. Those who live in our district will be safer. Our community and property values will remain strong.

Fact 3:
Keep our community and first responders safe

Firefighting and emergency medical response are physically demanding and dangerous careers. New building materials, cars made of stronger steel and constantly evolving emergency medical situations are just a few of the situations that make ongoing training critical for our first responders. In addition to these challenges, they are frequently exposed to harmful chemicals at the emergency scene, increasing their risk of cancer, which is the leading cause of death among firefighters. Many of our Monarch firefighters have been directly affected by this.

To keep our community and first responders safe, the district must regularly update protective gear and other equipment. Well-trained and well-equipped responders can better handle emergencies, ensuring the safety of both themselves and our community.

Prop. A would provide funding for life-saving ambulance, fire, and rescue equipment, replace outdated protective gear containing cancer-linked coatings, and support ongoing training to prepare our first responders for new challenges. This will help ensure our community remains safe and our first responders are protected.

Fact 4:
Our tax rate would remain one of the lowest in the area

Monarch’s tax rate is the lowest in the area and it has not been increased in 35 years. The district strives to be good stewards of our residents’ tax dollars, and we’ve stretched those dollars as far as we can without truly sacrificing the quality of services. Despite collecting the maximum amount allowed by private medical insurance and Medicare, it still costs more to run an ambulance call than what is reimbursed - and these costs keep rising.

But with growth, providing quality services with today’s tax rate is just not possible. Two options exist —cutting back services or increasing the District’s tax rate.

As our community has grown, so have property values. However, due to the Missouri Hancock Amendment, the District does not fully benefit from this increase — the amount of revenue from increased property values is capped or limited. The Hancock Amendment requires that our district’s rate be rolled back so that revenue does not exceed that cap or limit. So our fire District’s actual —or collected — tax rate is less than the full amount approved by voters.

Prop. A includes a 19-cent operating rate increase, which would cost the owner of a home valued at $400,000 around $12 per month. With this increase, Monarch’s tax rate would remain amongst the lowest in the area.

Fact 5:
Election Day is August 6 and Your Vote is Important

Prop. A is on the Tuesday, August 6 ballot. It is important that everyone vote. Please remember to get to the polls and remind all your family members and friends to vote too. As a registered voter in St. Louis County you can vote at any County polling place, including:

PARKWAY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
369 N Woods Mill Rd, 63017

THORNHILL BRANCH LIBRARY  
12863 Willowyck Dr, 63146

CHESTERFIELD CITY HALL SCHOOL
690 W Chesterfield Pkwy, 63017

PARKWAY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
12860 Fee Fee Rd, 63146

KING OF KINGS LUTHERAN CHURCH
13765 Olive Blvd, 63017

GREEN TRAILS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
170 Portico Dr, 63017

MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL
1220 Babler Park Dr, 63038

SHENANDOAH VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
15399 Appalachian Trl, 63017

ROCKWOOD VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
1220 Babler Park Dr, 63038

SAMUEL C SACHS LIBRARY
16400 Burkhardt Pl, 63017

WILDWOOD CITY HALL
16860 Main St, 63040

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHESTERFIELD
17103 Wild Horse Creek Rd, 63005