Letter to the Editor

Missouri already low-tax state

On May 6, the Missouri Legislature overrode Gov. Nixon's veto of a bill to reduce income and some business taxes. These changes are scheduled to take place in 2017.

These pending cuts are similar to tax reductions which were enacted by the Kansas Legislature in 2012. To date, Kansas has experienced some negative results as a consequence of this action. According to the Center on Budget and Priorities, the Kansas reductions are costing the state about 8 percent of the revenue it uses to fund schools, health care and other public services. This loss of revenue took place at a time when tax revenues in the other states were averaging a 2 percent increase. Furthermore, it is anticipated that this 8 percent revenue loss will rise to 16 percent in the next five years unless Kansas reverses its tax cuts.

In addition, the Kansas Department of Revenue announced that the amount of taxes it collected in April of this year was 45 percent less than what it collected in April of 2013. This is one of the reasons why on May 3 Moody's Investors Service reduced its bond rating for Kansas from Aa1 to Aa2.

Under the presently existing statutes, Missouri's per capita state tax revenue is $1,843. Only five other states have lower per capita rates of tax revenue. The state of Missouri has a number of problems which the Legislature should address. Taxes which are too high is not one of them.

JOHN PIEPHO, Cape Girardeau