Kehoe emphasizes public safety, elimination of income taxes, lower spending during State of the State
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Kehoe pushed ahead with his proposal to eliminate Missouri's income tax during his annual State of the State Address on Tuesday before a joint session of the General Assembly.
Kehoe has talked about income tax elimination since he ran for the office. Now he's looking to implement those ideas.
"If we are serious about building a foundation for growth, to compete rather than be complacent, then we must begin the work now to phase-out and eliminate Missouri's individual income tax," Kehoe said in prepared remarks. "We can do both. We can maintain a balanced budget that supports essential services and pursue a bold tax policy that improves Missouri’s competitiveness."
Kehoe also stressed the need for responsible state budgeting after the state auditor warned the General Assembly of a quickly dropping reserve fund. Kehoe said his budget reduces $600 million from general revenue spending.
Kehoe's 2025 State of the State address included priorities such as public safety, economic development, agriculture, education and government efficiency. For 2026, his focus will be continuing to prioritize those areas, according to a press release from the Governor's office.
Kehoe also signed executive orders on school accountability and to create a government efficiency initiative called Missouri GREAT.
Kehoe talked about his tax plan to gradually eliminate the state's income tax. However, to do that, the state would have to expand the sales tax base to include services, according to conservative group Americans For Prosperity.
Democratic lawmakers are already planning to counter Kehoe's proposal with another plan.
House Minority Floor Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) said either option will hurt Missourians. State Rep. Mark Boyko (D-Kirkwood) said he intends to file an alternative plan next week that he claims would save most citizens more money. Boyko couldn't give details of the plan.
Kehoe's plan to eliminate the state income tax will need to be voter-approved and is expected to be on the ballot this year.
One of Kehoe's top priorities ahead of his address is public safety, which has been a hot topic since a Homecoming weekend shooting in September that led to the death of Stephen's College student Aiyanna Williams.
In December, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi met with Kehoe and Missouri's public safety team to discuss efforts to combat crime in Columbia. However, that meeting only included university representatives, not city officials.
Earlier this month, Kehoe met with Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, and Police Chief Jill Schlude to discuss public safety.
The city official's meeting with Kehoe came after a violent start to the year in Columbia.
On Jan 3, a 17-year-old was arrested after police claimed he fired shots inside Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Shoppes at Stadium area, then stole a car and fled on Interstate 70. The following night, a shooting at an apartment complex on Clark Lane left 21-year-old Brianna Hawkins, of Fulton, dead and two others injured.
Buffaloe told ABC 17 News that while the meeting was pre-planned before those incidents took place, both of them came up in their conversation with Kehoe.
City Manager De'Carlon Seewod described the meeting as "short" but productive. No other meetings with Kehoe have been scheduled.
