sales tax

While Republicans are considering how they want to approach tax cuts as well as making it harder to amend the constitution, Democrats plan to use the Republican lawmakers' support of 4 and 5 against them.

Sales tax on certain clothing, school supplies and computers is waived this weekend.

Today, Missourians will decide the fate of a proposed constitutional amendment that gives lawmakers the ability to expand sales and use taxes in order to eliminate the state income tax.

63% of Missouri's general revenue comes from individual income taxes. Critics of Amendment 5 wonder how the legislature will fill the gap. States without income tax have raised revenue by adding taxes on everything from tourism to tobacco.

Gov. Mike Kehoe has been pushing to phase-out the state's income tax, and now voters will get to decide in Tuesday's election. But Amendment 5 leaves many unknowns: How will the legislature will expand sales and use taxes? Will the change actually spur more business?

Amendment 5’s sponsor says it won’t affect schools in the short term and could help in the long term. But critics say it leaves too many unanswered questions.

Question 3 on the Aug. 4 election asks Kansas City voters to extend the 1/8-cent Central City Economic Development tax that helps fund projects in the urban core.

A statement signed by four Missouri diocese leaders doesn't specifically tell voters to reject the August ballot issue, which would allow expanded sales taxes and end the state income tax. But the bishops say it will disproportionately harm people with lower incomes.

Broadcast ad spending on Amendments 4 and 5 is approaching $9 million as the days run down before the Aug. 4 vote.

Amendment 5, to be considered by Missouri voters in August, would give the legislature the power to replace the state income tax with expanded sales taxes. Critics say it would be difficult to make up the lost revenue without imposing taxes on healthcare.

On the August 4 ballot, Amendment 1 reauthorizes a sales tax of 0.1% that provides money for soil and water conservation projects and Missouri's state parks system.

Ads over amendments 4 and 5 are beginning to flood the state, but some major donors behind the campaigns may never be known.