Frequently Asked Questions

How was the Jefferson County Charter Commission appointed?

Members were selected by the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court Judges, also known as the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, from among County citizens who submitted applications. The commission consists of seven Democrats and seven Republicans, and was sworn in at its first meeting on January 15, 2008.

If the County votes to adopt a charter form of government, does it mean that taxes will go up?

No. Tax increases can only be passed by a majority of County voters. This is true today, and will remain true if the county adopts a charter government.

What does "home rule" mean?

Without charter government, Missouri counties have very limited authority to pass new ordinances and laws. While counties with smaller populations may not need such flexibility, the Missouri constitution affords "first-class" counties (those with larger populations and assessed valuations) to govern themselves by writing and adopting a charter. Because the adoption of charter government means that the county gains new abilities to manage its affairs on its home territory, charter government is sometimes referred to as "home rule."

When do you intend to have the charter document completed?

Our current plan is to have a draft completed in May, and to have a final approved document in August. While public comment is encouraged during all parts of this process, it will be especially critical during the comment period between May and August.

Will the Charter Commission adopt a charter document as written for one of the other counties who have, or have tried for, charter government?

No. While the proposed charter will undoubtedly have similarities with some of the other charter documents that have been written for Missouri counties, Jefferson County has a number of characteristics that make it unique among its peers.

Ours is not a primarily urban county such as Jackson or St. Louis County. While we appear at first to share a great deal with St. Charles County, keep in mind that over 80% of that county's population lives within an incorporated area. Less than 30% of Jefferson County's population lives within the borders of a city or town.

Put another way, the opportunity to create a government that is precisely suited to the County's needs is too great an opportunity to give up by wholesale adoption of another county's charter.