Kansas City parents have launched a campaign against Missouri Amendment 5, a constitutional amendment that would phase out the state’s income tax and replace it with expanded sales taxes, ahead of an August 4 vote.
The statewide coalition, called Parents for Missouri Public Schools, argues the tax plan could lead to less state funding for schools. The group kicked off its campaign in Kansas City on July 9, organizing parents and school board members to oppose the measure.
Amendment 5 would require lawmakers to gradually reduce and eventually eliminate Missouri’s individual income tax based on revenue growth. To offset the lost income tax revenue, the amendment would give the state legislature broad authority to raise or implement sales taxes.
Parents and education officials worry the shift would cut state funding to public schools. The Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education approved a resolution in June expressing concern about what it called an “impending fiscal crisis” if the amendment passes, according to KCTV.
A statewide coalition called Parents for Missouri Public Schools argues the tax plan could lead to less state funding for schools, according to KCUR. Organizers have been holding parent training events across Missouri to mobilize opposition before the August 4 vote.
The campaign supporting Amendment 5 has raised significantly more money. Over the past two months, $9.6 million poured into the campaign to replace Missouri’s income tax with expanded sales taxes, according to the Kansas City Star. However, the exact sources of those dollars remain hidden, as the major contributions come from organizations that do not have to disclose their donors.
The amendment has drawn support from Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe and conservative political groups, while educators, parents, and business groups including the Missouri Association of Realtors have organized against it.
Sources
- KCUR — campaign launch details, parents’ concerns about school funding
- Kansas City Star — $9.6 million in campaign funding for Amendment 5
- KCTV — Kansas City Public Schools Board resolution on fiscal crisis concerns
- Missouri Independent — parent groups organizing against Amendment 5, school funding concerns
- Ballotpedia — Amendment 5 details and registered campaigns
