Property Taxes: Investing Locally for Real Impact

Community Support Makes a Difference

Thank you to everyone who used your voice to inform people on the connection between local property tax and local disability services that support St. Charles County’s I/DD community. 

Your efforts made a meaningful impact in our County. As we move forward, our focus remains the same: creating a welcoming community that is enhanced by the contributions, talents, and inclusion of people with I/DD.

Understanding the Connection Between Tax Policy and Disability Support

The DDRB of St. Charles County funds and provides services that help to fill critical gaps in care for many people with I/DD and their families. How DDRB’s property tax funding is used to support the I/DD community is determined locally and based on community need. Currently, the DDRB-funded services support people working, living safely in the community, accessing transportation and professional services, and more.

An average of 93% of DDRB tax revenue the last 5 years went directly to services for individuals with developmental disabilities1.
The remaining 7% is used to steward these dollars, assess needs to establish meaningful funding priorities, spread awareness on behalf of people with I/DD monitor quality and efficiency, act as a system player in our county on behalf of people with disabilities.

How is property tax funding used to support the local I/DD community?

  • Support people in community-based settings rather than more costly alternatives
  • Fill gaps not covered by other funding sources
  • Prevent service disruptions

Source:
1 DDRB FY’25 data

As Missouri’s fastest growing county, the need for I/DD services will continue to grow.

It is estimated that as many as 7,2001,2 people in St. Charles County have an intellectual or developmental disability and may need access to DDRB-funded services supported by local property tax. In 2025, DDRB funding helped support 2,659 clients with critical services3. Nearly 25% of these individuals were those newly entering services.

How do I/DD services benefit the community?

  • Empowers people to gain and keep jobs and contribute to the local economy
  • Gives families the support they need to stay employed
  • Creates local jobs in caregiving
  • Helps reduce reliance on emergency, institutional, or crisis-driven services

Sources:
1UMKC 2025 CRA Report Missouri Statewide Needs Assessment
2 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/stcharlescountymissouri/PST045224
3 DDRB FY’25 audit data

The earlier people with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive essential services, the better the outcomes.

That’s part of the reason why in 1977 St. Charles County voters voted to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with property tax funding. Our County has a nearly 50-year history of recognizing the needs and contributions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.

Organizations like the DDRB also play an active role in community planning, building provider capacity, and advocating on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Source:
DDRB FY’25 Annual Report

A group of children smiling at the camera while enjoying a field trip at the zoo.

DDRB-funded services support people working and living safely in the community, professional services, and more.

These property-tax funded investments also help to reduce reliance on more costly emergency, institutional, or crisis-driven services by addressing needs earlier and more efficiently.

From an employment perspective, property tax funding:

  • Keeps public dollars circulating in the local economy
  • Supports a network of local service providers and frontline professionals
  • Helps stabilize community-based organizations serving county residents
A little girl in a wheelchair enjoying the park with her caregiver.

Why this matters to Taxpayers

Local dollars support practical, everyday needs to help drive positive outcomes:

Agencies We Fund

In Fiscal Year 2026 DDRB is partnering with 28 agencies to provide 64 community-based programs that play a vital role in supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) throughout St. Charles County.

For questions or additional information, please contact info@DDRB.org

The Developmental Disabilities Resource Board (DDRB) is prohibited from using public funds to support or oppose any candidate or ballot measure. We are, however, allowed—and often asked—to explain how public policy proposals could affect the services we provide and the people we support. The DDRB respects and appreciates the goal of making taxation fair, transparent, and equitable. We recognize the work lawmakers are doing to address those issues. The information outlined above is intended to provide clarity on how taxpayer contributions are used to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—and how those investments strengthen the St. Charles County community as a whole.