Missouri Tax Hike Splits Transportation Advocates

 

Image Source: https://flic.kr/p/hwfy9s Mississippi River Bridge Project

A new tax initiative to increase road funding in Missouri is gaining opposition from public transit advocates and politicians. The initiative, which has slowly been developing over the past 6 years, is going to Missouri voters on August 5^th. 

The new funding, which is being opposed by Governor Jay Nixon, would be generated by a statewide sales tax hike of three-quarters of a cent over a period of 10 years. The measure would add $480 million per year to the state’s transportation funding and would also generate an additional $54 million in transportation funding for local governments. The funding would also prohibit the state from raising fuel taxes or collecting new tolls while the higher sales tax is in effect.

Governor Nixon has decided to put the measure to vote in the August primary election rather than in the November general election. 

You can read the full story here.