Kehoe discusses income tax proposal at Southern Boone Economic Development Council breakfast
Jazsmin Halliburton
ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Kehoe was in Ashland for the Southern Boone Economic Development Council’s Leader Breakfast Thursday morning.
Several speakers from Boone County, Ashland and REDI gave updates from across the region. Kehoe was the keynote speaker in Thursday’s event. He discussed multiple points regarding economic development and the measures to eliminate the income tax and allow new sales taxes to appear before voters on the August or November ballot.
The Missouri House on Tuesday approved the measure with a 95-59 vote. The Senate passed the measure last week, known as House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174.
Supporters say eliminating the income tax will put more money back in Missourians pockets so they can decide how they want to spend it. Critics, however, have said the change would shift more of the state’s tax burden to poor and middle-class residents.
Kehoe told ABC 17 News that they have seen states without income tax have more economic growth and he wants Missouri to be competitive with other states.
When asked about how he can ease the mind of people worried about an increase in everyday cost, such as groceries, he says there is a lot of misinformation out there. “Every income level we’ve looked at, the amount of money Missourians will keep in their pocket because of their income tax is more than double any potential widening of the sales tax code,” said Kehoe. “So, it’s a little bit of misinformation is certainly something to be concerned about.”
Kehoe says that Missourians will come out ahead at every income level on this tax proposal.
The decision on whether this tax proposal passes is up to voters, and Kehoe has not yet decided whether the proposal will be on the August or the November ballot.