The Taxman Confuseth
Some Missouri counties are moving forward with passing property tax freezes for seniors. This is unsurprising, as it is a...
“Tax-Free Weekend” Underscores Importance of Sound, Stable and Uniform Tax Policies
My colleague David Stokes has been in the news in recent weeks as one of a handful of vocal (and...
The Surveillance State Comes to Missouri
License plate reading systems are expanding rapidly in Missouri, as I have been depressed to learn over the past week....
What to Do about Property Taxes in Missouri
Several years ago, my colleagues and I were debating what the worst possible tax policy change could be. (I work...
St. Louis Should Privatize Its Water System
A version of this commentary appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. You have probably heard about all of the large...
The System We Have Is Not the System We’ve Had
Make no mistake—enrollment in public education in Missouri is shrinking. Last year, we had about 863,000 students, down three percent...
Independence Could Benefit from Privatizing Utilities
A version of this commentary appeared in the Examiner of Jackson County. Independence is one of the few cities in...
Reading Alone
The St. Louis County library system has announced it is making social workers available at several libraries as a standard...
“Mr. Mayor, Tear Down This House!”
The average size of American homes has increased dramatically in the post-war period. (And by post-war, I mean post-World War...
A St. Louis County Merger?
The adjoining St. Louis County municipalities of Normandy and Glen Echo Park are considering merging. Learn more here.
St. Louis County Municipal Use Taxes Should Expand the Tax Base, Not the Size of Government
A version of this commentary appeared in the St. Louis Business Journal. Use taxes in Missouri are simply sales taxes...
The St. Louis Demographic Decline: One Explanation Among Many
Most St. Louisans I know are die-hard fans of the city they call home. Maybe it’s because we are blessed...
Pot Taxes Can Help Municipal Kettles Get into the Black
A version of this commentary appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. When Missouri voters approved the ballot initiative legalizing marijuana...
St. Louis Should Eliminate Its Economic Development Agencies
A version of this commentary appeared in the St. Louis Business Journal. In July 2010, Missouri politicians joined the state’s...
The Kansas City Earnings Tax Tortoise Versus the St. Louis Earnings Tax Hare
When the pandemic struck and remote work took over, two city tax policies diverged in an asphalt jungle. Kansas City...
What Does Missouri’s Teacher Shortage Really Look Like
A version of this commentary was published in the Columbia Daily Tribune. Over the past few years, Missourians have gotten...
The St. Louis County Budget
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently ran an article on St. Louis County’s budget situation that was lacking, in my opinion....
What’s the Rush, Chesterfield?
Chesterfield leaders have scheduled a special city council meeting for Wednesday, December 14, to vote on (and likely approve) the...
Robertson Fire District Changes Move Forward
A judge has thrown out a lawsuit that sought to block a recall vote for Robertson Fire District in northwest...
This Is What Number Four Looks Like?
By now, we have all seen that wonderful photo of the young child sitting in the backseat of her parents’...
