By Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – Governor Jay Nixon is not yet taking a stand on Proposition A, the ballot question that could lead to the elimination of earnings taxes in St. Louis and Kansas City.
The one percent earnings tax is paid by people who either live or work within the city limits of both St. Louis and Kansas City. If Proposition A is approved, voters in each city would get to decide next year whether to keep or dump the tax. And if kept, new referendums would be required every five years.
Governor Nixon says he needs to study the issue more before commenting on it.
"We've worked hard to hold the line on taxes in this state, but you want to make sure that those cities (are) able to manage their own local finances with as much flexibility and authority as they can possibly have," Nixon said.
Proposition A would also bar all other cities in Missouri from levying earnings taxes to fund their local budgets.
Meanwhile, Kansas City has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Proposition A.