Unnecessary Taxes
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) harms schools. At least that’s what the superintendent of the Liberty School District says. He claims...
Witches, Economic Development Promises, and Baseball
I had no idea that there were so many witches in Romania. Or that European politicians (including French President Nicolas...
Missouri’s TIF Infestation
If I got to pick it, the slogan for my beloved home state of Missouri would be: “Missouri: We’re In The...
Del Blighto
News that the flying saucer–shaped Del Taco might be demolished has the Saint Louis community of architectural preservationists up in...
Saint Louis County Sales Tax Pool Should Be Expanded, Not Contracted
According to legend, Alexander the Great solved the riddle of the Gordian knot with one swing of his sword. I...
Saint Louis County Sales Tax Pool Under Fire Again
The annual debate about the Saint Louis County sales tax pool is being treated more seriously this year in the...
A Five-Year Plan for the Earnings Tax
Voters in Kansas City and Saint Louis have clearly stated their desire to maintain those cities’ earnings taxes. Macroeconomic municipal...
A-Rod Moves Into a TIF District, Pays No Property Taxes
The Yankee’s third baseman Alex Rodriguez has a 10-year, $275 million contract — surely he has enough to pay his...
Worth the Cost? A New View of Ballpark Village
This week, the long-stalled Ballpark Village came back from the dead, one decade after it was first announced. The new...
Now Open, but So What?
For advocates of free markets, St. Louis city presents a disturbing environment for the conduct of business. Indeed, the fact...
“The County Will Help Bridgeton Find a Better Deal.”
According to an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch from Friday, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley encourages the...
Do the Ends Justify the Means?
I am in generally opposed to the use of tax increment financing (TIF), because I don’t believe the government should...
Counties, Not Municipalities, Should Determine TIFs
The core of this issue has already been argued on the eastern side of the state. A 2007 change to...
Why the Secrecy?
It took awhile to find in today’s paper, but the Post-Dispatch had a good article about developer Paul McKee’s $8...
Quo Vadis, Domine?
I’ve just had the chance to look at the papers filed with the city of St. Louis, requesting the formation...
Another Thing to Like About St. Charles County Government
We have praised county government in St. Charles a few times here at the Show-Me Institute. The primary reason is...
Tax Incentive Goose, Meet Subsidy Gander
The insantiy of Missouri’s tax incentive system is slowly becoming more apparent, though I have no confidence that, in this...
Developing the Core
Kansas City’s mayor, Mark Funkhouser, is likely to appoint a new task force to help develop the urban core, the...
Counties, Not Cities, Should Determine TIFs
A 2007 change to state law granting more authority to county tax increment financing (TIF) commissions within the Saint Louis-area,...
Saint Charles County Grows Without TIFs
Local governments throughout Missouri continue their neverending quest to lure favored businesses and keep the chosen ones they already have...
