By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – A St. Louis County councilman wants to lower the county's property tax rate.
Councilman Kurt Odenwald says higher property values mean homeowners will pay more in taxes under current rates.
The Republican says he'll introduce legislation Tuesday that would drop the rate from 58 cents to just under 56 cents per $100 of assessed value.
"We can do it without cutting services, without affecting employee salaries, without in any way compromising the public safety of citizens in St. Louis County," Odenwald said.
Odenwald says some money can be taken out of the county's debt service fund in order to avoid cutting public services.
Two weeks ago, County Executive Charlie Dooley said he opposes lowering the tax rate citing tight budgets in recent years.