Missouri Lawmakers Consider Adding a Penny to Sales Tax for Transportation

Missouri lawmakers are debating whether to add a penny to the state sales tax and dedicate the new revenue to transportation.

The proposal lawmakers are considering would require voters to approve the penny increase for a 10-year period — a plan the Missouri Trucking Association is supporting.

A penny on the 4.225-cent sales tax, rather than trying to increase the fuel tax, is the best strategy for generating badly-needed road money, said Ross Nichols, director of governmental affairs for the trucking association.

“Here in Missouri, if you’re going to pass any major type of tax increase, it has to go to a vote of the people,” Nichols said. “And in Missouri, even though our fuel tax is very low comparatively, people hate it.”

Missouri’s tax on diesel and gasoline is 17 cents a gallon, while in neighboring Kansas, the diesel tax is 27 cents, and to the east in Illinois, the diesel tax is 42.2 cents.