For Immediate Release: March 10, 2026
Contact: Traci Gleason
Swapping State Income Tax for Increased Sales Taxes Will Harm Missourians, State & Local Economy
Statement from Amy Blouin, President and CEO, Missouri Budget Project
In voting to move forward on a tax scheme that would undercut Missouri’s schools and harm our communities, Missouri legislators have made clear that their priorities lie with wealthy donors rather than hardworking Missouri families.
Missouri families are already stretched thin. Childcare and groceries are more and more expensive, food banks can’t keep up with the demand, and our state provides less support to our public schools than any other state in the country.
Missourians work hard and play by the rules, but time and again, state policymakers give the wealthiest a free ride while asking more from working families.
Eliminating the income tax is a huge giveaway to a select few, but increased sales taxes will cost up to 80% of Missourians more overall – while also blowing a $5 billion hole in our state budget. That means massive cuts to our classrooms, mental health, and services like childcare and support for older adults.
That’s bad for Missouri families, bad for our communities, and ultimately bad for our economy.
#
Missouri Budget Project is a nonprofit public policy analysis organization that analyzes state budget, tax, and economic issues.
