St. Louis County voters will be voting on Proposition P on the April 4th ballot. Here is the language you will see on your ballot.
“Shall St. Louis County impose a one-half of one percent sales tax for the purpose of providing funds to improve police and public safety in St. Louis County and each of the municipalities within St. Louis County?”
Central Committee Report
REASONS TO VOTE NO
There are a number of reasons for voting against this ballot measure even though the police deserve pay raises.
1. The wording in this bill is not specific at to what we’re getting in return. The funding from this tax increase would go towards “public safety” and can encompass things like St. Louis County Jail and the prosecuting attorney’s office in addition to police.
2. There is no guarantee that the county will not back out money originally budgeted for the police after this tax increase is passed. In other words, they could handle the money in the same manner that the state of Missouri handled casino money that was dedicated to education. The state merely took education money out of the regular budget as the casino money came in and our education system is actually less funded now than before the casinos came along. With the vague wording of this tax proposal, St. Louis County could do the same thing. Basically this tax increase would give politicians $80 million to play with.
3. Millions of dollars will go to municipalities who never asked for this funding. This was done in order to make it legal to have a county-wide sales tax increase.
4. There is no sunset on this tax. Once it’s passed, it goes on forever.
Former St. Louis County Police Chief and Meramec Committeeman Tim Fitch voiced his mixed feelings regarding Proposition P. He feels that the police deserve pay raises, but has reservations regarding the way the money generated from this sales tax would be handled. Would it be similar to the gambling boat money for education?
A motion was made and passed that voiced support for the St. Louis County Police but opposed Proposition P because of the vague wording of this tax increase.
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More Information on How Taxes Affect The Residents of the State
Wild Horse Committeeman Ken Newhouse referred to a website: ITEP.org/who pays. This website gives a good analysis and summary of how taxes affect the residents of their state. He and a group of people have started a group “Missourians for Sales Tax Abolition.”