Susan Pendergrass speaks with David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Cities, Towns, and Villages, Part Two: Taxation. They discuss Missouri’s over-reliance on sales taxes and harmful local income taxes, particularly in St. Louis and Kansas City. Stokes emphasizes the need for a “three-legged stool” approach to municipal funding, where sales taxes, property taxes, and user fees work together to create a more stable and sustainable financial system for Missouri’s municipalities.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Municipal Policy Expertise
02:52 Understanding Municipal Policy and Governance
06:12 Local Taxation: Sources and Implications
09:03 The Role of User Fees in Municipal Finance
12:10 Sales Tax Dynamics and Special Taxing Districts
14:47 The Impact of Tax Incentives on Local Development
17:54 Challenges of Property and Personal Property Taxes
20:58 Sales Tax Pooling: A Unique Approach
24:08 Conclusion and Future Directions in Municipal Policy
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity
