Mo. auditor to appeal ruling on tax initiative

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri auditor plans to appeal a court ruling striking down the financial estimate for a ballot initiative that would repeal Missouri's income tax in favor of an expanded sales tax.

Auditor Tom Schweich (shwyk) said Monday that he will appeal the ruling made late last week by Cole County Circuit Judge Pat Joyce.

Schweich had estimated that Missouri could gain as much as $300 million or lose up to $1.5 billion if voters were to approve the tax measure this November.

But the judge said those figures were based on a biased and not credible analysis submitted by a supporter of the initiative. The judge said the only sure thing is that Missouri's current tax structure would be repealed, and its replacement was uncertain.