KCSC Advocacy Alert

KC Shepherd’s Center encourages all older adults to educate yourselves on ballot issues and elections that affect your ability to enjoy the fruits of your many years of labor, maintain the independence and dignity you deserve, and receive the public services for which you have paid taxes longer than anyone else.

How Amendment 5 Will IMPACT Missouri Seniors’ Wallets

Amendment 5

Reads in part:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

• Require legislative phase-out of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth, and authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes;



• Curtail constitutional limits on taxing goods and services

What does voting yes mean?

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to reduce and eventually eliminate the state individual income tax. Once it is eliminated, it would prohibit future Missouri state income taxes – permanently!

What does voting no mean?

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution and reducing the state individual income tax with the end goal of eliminating it.

What’s At Stake

On August 4, Missouri voters will decide on Amendment 5, a constitutional amendment that would phase out the state's individual income tax permanently while allowing lawmakers to expand and/or raise sales taxes to make up the lost revenue. This measure could hit seniors harder than most.

Social Security benefits and military retirement pay are already exempt from Missouri's income tax. If that's most of your income, eliminating the income tax gives you little or no benefit — but you'd still pay the new or higher sales taxes on things you buy every day, from prescriptions and doctor visits to home repairs, haircuts, and in-home care.

The Current Budget Landscape

The State of Missouri is currently operating at approximately a $2 Billion deficit in 2026 on a total budget of $50 Billion. Missouri's income tax funds about 64% of the state's general revenue — the same pot of money that supports programs that KC Shepherd’s Center provides like Meals on Wheels, in-home personal care, and other services delivered through our local Area Agencies on Aging. In contrast, sales and use taxes comprise 26%.

State budget cuts in 2026 have already resulted in the reduction of services to the 1.1 million taxpaying citizens of Missouri, including $48.5 million cut from the Senior Independent Living Program (half the program’s budget to serve older adults in Missouri), The Customized Caregiver Training and Relief Program cut by $1 million, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) that pays for older adults to earn an income working for nonprofit organizations was cut and slated to be completely eliminated next year.

Area Agencies on Aging that fund programs like KC Shepherd’s Center’s Meals on Wheels program continue to receive less government funding at all levels.

A Big Unknown

Missouri's income tax funds about 64% of the state's general revenue — the same pot of money that supports Meals on Wheels, in-home personal care, and other services delivered through our local Area Agencies on Aging. Amendment 5 doesn't state how those services would be funded once income tax revenue disappears.

It's also worth noting that the state auditor's own fiscal note points out that the legislature already has the power to lower the income tax without changing the constitution if that was the main concern.

KC Shepherd's Center advocates public policy and funding for older adults and their caregivers. We cannot make a difference without your help. Please consider a donation to support KC Shepherd's Center. Click below to donate.

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Sources- Ballot Measure 5:

• Missouri Amendment 5 - Important Considerations (Missouri Assoc. of Area Agencies on Aging)

• Amendment 5 would end Missouri's income tax, but could add sales taxes on services (KSHB)



• Governor Kehoe Places Amendment 5 on August 4, 2026 Ballot