“The Missouri Earnings Tax Initiative” - My Stance On Proposition A (Missouri)

On November 2nd, Missourians will be asked to go vote. There are several issues on the ballot. Like I mentioned in the post for Proposition B, I have decided to do my own research, and make my own decision. I wanted to really look at the issue myself, and not rely on just what others are saying.

So with this post, I'm going to focus on Proposition A... "The Missouri Earnings Tax Initiative".

The current state law allows the earnings tax to be in the hands of the politicians, without any voter approval, and it could lead to other cities adopting local earning taxes as well. Right now, they are authorized by state law, in it can only be modified by a vote of vote of the legislature or a statewide vote of the people. That's how this initiative comes into play.

If this measure passes, it would then put the voting power back in the hands of the citizens of St. Louis and Kansas City, allowing local elections every five years on keeping the 1% earnings tax or phasing it out over a 10 year period. It will also keep politicians from imposing any new local earnings taxes on other communities in the state of Missouri that don't have one.  

The earnings tax is a 1% tax on the incomes of businesses and individuals working or residing in the city. Right now, it can be imposed the city of Springfield, and according to what I've found, it has been considered! I'm not in favor of that happening, especially without being able to vote on it. If politicians want to add a tax, they need to bring it to us voters first.

This proposition will give voters the rights to pass or reject their own taxes, not leave it to the politicians. I'd rather leave it up to the voters, thank you very much!

Voting "No" allows the state laws concerning the earnings tax remain unchanged.

Voting "Yes" allows Kansas City and St. Louis voters the right to decide every five years if they want to continue or deny the existing earnings tax, and it prohibits any new earnings tax from being imposed on other communities.

So the question is, will you allow others (government) to decide whether you should be under an additional tax, or do you want to be allowed to make that choice. This decision is yours......

Can you guess mine?

~Matt