Columbia Missourian
The fate of a ballot measure that would curtail the ability of Missouri cities to enact an earnings tax now rests in the hands of a Cole County judge. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem heard arguments in the case Friday, concerning Proposition A. The earnings tax exists in only two cities ”” St. Louis and Kansas City. The cities levy a 1 percent tax on the income of businesses and individuals working or residing in the city.
Placing security cameras downtown is a good idea, members of the Chamber of Commerce say. The chamber issued a news release Thursday endorsing the initiative petition, that appears on the April 6 ballot, calling for cameras. The chamber’s board of directors had previously approved a recommendation from the Government Affairs Committee encouraging the City Council to revisit the downtown camera issue, but the request was denied. A group of Columbia citizens later presented the council with a petition to allow citizens to vote on the issue in April.
Donors to charities, private schools, and school districts could claim up to a 50 percent tax credit for their donations under an initiative currently circulating in Missouri. Supporters must collect signatures of 8 percent of voters in six congressional districts.