Enterprise executive chairman Andy Taylor steps up funding for April vote on St. Louis earnings tax renewal

Renewal vote set for April 7 municipal election

St. Louis voters are scheduled to decide April 7, 2026, whether the city’s 1% earnings tax will continue for another five years, a recurring ballot question required under Missouri law. The measure is the latest in a series of renewals that has returned to voters at regular intervals, including approvals in 2016 and 2021.

In recent weeks, the political campaign around the question has drawn new attention as Andy Taylor, executive chairman of Enterprise Holdings, has moved to boost fundraising and support for the renewal effort. Campaign-finance filings show Taylor has contributed to a committee organized to advocate for the tax’s continuation.

What the earnings tax is, and who pays it

The earnings tax is a 1% levy on earnings for people who live in the City of St. Louis and on income earned within the city by nonresidents who work there. The tax is typically withheld by employers for covered wages, while certain taxpayers—such as those with self-employment income or partial-year residency—may file and pay directly.

City guidance also provides refund procedures for nonresidents who can document that some work was performed outside city limits during the tax year. In practice, questions about the tax’s application have become more visible since the pandemic-era expansion of remote and hybrid work, which can affect where income is considered earned for local tax purposes.

Budget stakes: a major share of general revenue

City officials have described the earnings tax as a central pillar of St. Louis’ general fund, used to support core municipal operations. Public budget discussions in recent years have regularly placed the earnings tax among the city’s largest recurring revenue sources and have tied its continuation to funding for routine services.

• Revenue from the tax supports day-to-day city operations rather than restricted enterprise funds.
• Because the tax applies to many commuters as well as residents, it captures revenue from the city’s daytime workforce.
• Shifts in work location—especially remote work—can change collections and drive refund activity.

How the ballot question advances and what it changes

The earnings tax renewal was advanced through City Hall via Board Bill 100, which sets out the election question and provides that the tax continues if approved by a majority of voters participating on that item. The measure does not create a new tax rate; it asks whether the existing 1% earnings tax should remain in effect for a defined five-year period.

Voters will be asked to authorize continuation of the existing 1% earnings tax for another five years.

What to watch between now and Election Day

The campaign period is expected to focus on competing claims about the city’s fiscal reliance on the tax, the burden on residents and commuters, and the long-term implications for service levels if the revenue stream is interrupted. With major business figures now visibly engaged in the advocacy effort, fundraising totals and coalition-building on both sides are likely to be closely watched ahead of the April 7 vote.