Voters in no mood for tax increases

Voters in last week's elections were anything but wishy-washy about new taxes: No!

Two statewide tax proposals were defeated by wide margins. Proposition A would have allowed a monthly tax on cell-phone bills to fund 911 systems so they could pinpoint the location of emergency calls from cell phones. Proposition B would have increased both the state sales tax and the state fuel tax, with nearly half a billion dollars a year earmarked for transportation projects.

In Scott City, Mo., voters just as adamantly rejected a quarter-cent sales tax that would have been used to fund a variety of municipal improvements.

The only issue affecting voters' pocketbooks that passed in this area was a bond issue for the newly created Cape Girardeau County Water Supply District No. 5. The $550,000 bond issued passed handily. The bonds will be used to start construction of a water system in northeastern Cape Girardeau County serving an estimated 2,500 residents who currently rely on private wells for water. The bonds will be repaid with revenue from water district user fees.

Clearly, this isn't the time to ask for any kind of tax increase.

Several weeks ago, the Cape Girardeau City Council was faced with a request from a task force of city employees who were recommending an increase in the city sales tax to pay for city projects and pay raises. Rather than put the proposal on the ballot, the council instead formed a committee of citizens to review the city's finances and to make recommendations.

Had the original task-force recommendation been on last week's ballot, the plan very likely would have been rejected, based on voters' moods right now.

Even before the voting, the chances of passing any kind of tax increase was being analyzed and discussed. Since Tuesday -- when most issues involving taxes were defeated all across Missouri -- the analysis has gone up several notches.

The cell-phone tax has been turned down twice now. As far as most voters are concerned, the case hasn't been made that a tax is needed to pay for 911 improvements to accommodate cell phones. One reason may be the fact that dozens of county 911 systems, mostly in rural areas, around the state are currently being upgraded with the financial assistance of government grants. Some voters, at least, may think these improvements will take care of the problem.

As for transportation, no easy solution is in sight. One positive result of the Proposition B campaign, however, may be even wider acknowledgment that Missouri truly needs a huge infusion of transportation dollars. Even such opponents of Proposition B as state Rep. Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, Mo., concede that the need is real. But the accountability of Missouri Department of Transportation remains in question.

As for residents of Scott City, they will continue making emergency repairs as needed until voters see the need for more money so improvements can be made that eliminate some of those patch jobs.

There's no question that the current national economy is having some bearing on tax decisions. And all the talk of war with Iraq is adding another layer of uncertainty.

Future government needs that require voter approval will have to meet a tough test of need that is balanced against what voters perceive as the ability of government to manage money prudently. Unless voters see the need and trust those who govern, tax increases will continue to go down in defeat.