tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502836480138518742.post3595391292904656788..comments2023-05-26T06:41:57.043-07:00Comments on Black Arts (Midwest) Network: Artists Against Prop ADail Chambershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10744210307013647691noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502836480138518742.post-70013644697858941342010-10-13T18:32:53.983-07:002010-10-13T18:32:53.983-07:00The earnings tax does not penalize the middle clas...The earnings tax does not penalize the middle class? You've got to be kidding me. The earnings tax is the most regressive tax we've got. It's the same rate if you're making minimum wage or making a million. No relief for low income workers, even though most of our poorest citizens will pay little or no federal or state income tax. But the city gives breaks to big businesses, like the Emerson electric deal, so the only ones who get a break on the earnings tax right now ARE the wealthy. The earnings tax is only 15% of the total city budget (it's 30% of the general revenue, which is only half of the money the city gets annually). Even IF city voters decide to phase it out, it would decrease gradually over 10 years. <br /><br />But Proposition A doesn't get rid of the tax. It merely gives St. Louis a chance to vote on it, and we can vote to keep it. A vote will keep politicians in check and they'll have to prove they're using the money taken from the paychecks of workers wisely. <br /><br />For me, as I suspect for many artists, $500 every year is actually a lot. It's money I could use to pay for an entire semester class, or supplies, or rent. If you're comfortable paying that year after year and not knowing what it pays for, then vote to keep the tax in place. But if it turns out the city can do without this money by cutting wasteful spending, for instance, then I think that money could be better used by people who are struggling to make ends meet and make the city a place we want to live and create in.nothinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05481770671891127181noreply@blogger.com