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Amendment 4 takes spotlight with polling, new opposition

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Amendment 4, a ballot measure which hopes to preemptively ban sales tax services, has entered the spotlight after close polling and new opposition arose.

The measure was considered safe by many, as it is a ban on taxes in a conservative-leaning state, and it is supported by the influential Missouri Association of Realtors.

The Missouri Municipal League, within a week of electing new leadership of their 660 members, has publicly stated that they oppose the measure because they believe it could lead to a reduction in services.

“This measure would amend the Missouri State Constitution, making it incredibly difficult for cities to revise tax structures over time,” said MML President and Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose. “It could cripple a local government in carrying out the needs citizens demand.”

The release went on to state three major reasons for the opposition.

“MML opposes Amendment 4 for the following reasons:

  • Placing a sales/use tax expansion prohibition in the Missouri Constitution would not allow this vitally important local revenue source to adjust to new technologies and an ever-shifting economy.

  • Amendment 4 could lead to the elimination or reduction of vital local services.There are no current efforts in Missouri to tax services. Placing a broad constitutional prohibition on the ballot to prevent an action that has not yet or may never occur is bad public policy.

  • With existing constitutional requirements, any proposals to extend sales tax to services in Missouri require a vote of the people. Amendment 4 focuses on a problem that does not exist.”

Other opponents of Amendment 4 include the Missouri Budget Project.

Missourians for Fair Taxation’s Scott Charton was quick to respond to MML.

“By opposing Amendment 4, The Taxpayer Protection Amendment, the Missouri Municipal League (MML) wants the option for government to add new job-killing taxes to services Missouri families and businesses use every day,” said Charton. “It is no surprise that government wants new ways to tax Missouri citizens. Amendment 4 sends a clear message to bureaucrats and politicians that Missourians want protection from new sales and use taxes on everyday services.

“MML is simply incorrect in stating that ‘there are no current efforts in Missouri to tax services.’ Legislation that could lead to expansion of the sales tax base to include services has been introduced in the last seven sessions of the Missouri General Assembly. And unelected bureaucrats at the Missouri Department of Revenue are currently interpreting laws to expand sales taxes to include everyday services without a vote of the people. DOR has overreached and expanded sales taxes to services including yoga lessons, dance studios and, most recently, delivery services, such as deliveries for pizza, flowers, and propane. By opposing Amendment 4, MML is blessing such overreach by unelected government bureaucrats who want more of Missourians’ hard-earned tax dollars.”

POLL

Meanwhile, a poll* was released Wednesday by the Missouri Times showed the amendment surprisingly down in polling by a 26 point margin. When over 1,500 likely voters were asked “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prohibit a new state or local sales/use or other similar tax on any service or transaction that was not subject to a sales/use or similar tax as of January 1, 2015?,” 23 percent said yes and 49 percent said no, leaving 27 percent undecided.

Charton said the campaign is gaining momentum.

“Our polling shows greater support for Amendment 4, The Taxpayer Protection Amendment, and our growing coalition of statewide business and trade organizations backing Amendment 4 shows statewide backing is strong and getting stronger. We are educating Missouri voters through grassroots contacts about the real threat of new sales taxes on services, and our campaign is confident Missourians will vote YES on Amendment 4, The Taxpayer Protection Amendment, to protect Missourians from new taxes on services we all use every day.”

Like most campaigns, the numbers are expected to get closer.

*Survey conducted October 4 through October 5, 2016. 1,588 likely voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2016 General Election. The Margin of Error is +/-2.64%. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. Survey conducted by Remington Research Group on behalf of The Missouri Times.