1.) Step process. Cut it in half first: $71 million a year
is easier to find than $141 million. As you see step one work-
then do step two.

2.) How do you find $71 million a year without raising taxes?

a.) collect the EXISTING entertainment tax-the tax levied on every ticket to every admission to every professional entertainment event-sports, shows,whatever. $30 million a year. Simply collecting this tax-no exceptions. $30 million a year.

b.) Grow the entertainment market – Reopen Kiel and Oerate MUNY
100 nights a year. Another $10 million in direct entertainment
tax revenue. Yes, know MUNY is not-for-profit. Collect a portion
anyway. A portion of 900,000 admissions rather than a portion of
450,000 admissions.

c.) In fact, collect a portion, a fair amount from every
entertainment event, show, play, concert given in the not-for
profit-places. Entertainment and events are big profit centers.
for these not-for-profit places. So some of the revenue should
Zoo, Museums, Science Center, Botanical Gardens, all of them.
They are in the entertainment business and that’s MONEY. Another $10 million a year. Direct. May be $15.

So that’s 55…Now somebody else step up and come up with 15.

Do not even think of ‘end-running’ the people of St. Louis County
for this money..Don’t go there. We are tapped out. And any increase in any tax is regressive, including the sales tax.

Not knowing anyone who left because of the earnings tax is hardly scientific or even conclusive. In fact, it might even be expected, since the earnings tax is more likely to effect people’s decisions to move INTO the city rather than out of it. It is one of many components in a decision of where to base one’s company or residence. All other things equal, why not locate in the suburbs of Clayton or U City than in the Central West End, if it will save money long term? Not everyone will be swayed by the tax, but there are people on the margin who will make that decision. (I explained this phenomenon in another blog post, also linked within the article: http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/09/st-louisans-are-smarter-than-the-post-dispatch-implies.html)

I wholeheartedly agree that fixing education is another issue that definitely needs attention. It’s one of many reasons though, just like the earnings tax. Showmeinstitute.org has policy studies and articles in regards to education that you may find interesting.

Additionally, “In the long run, rescinding the earnings tax could cause the St. Louis city population to double.” What’s the basis for this statement? I think its preposterous and would like to see that study that suggests removal the 1% earnings tax predicates this type of growth.