The Wright City R-II School Board has taken a stance opposing the so-called “everything tax” following unamious approval of a resolution. The “everything tax,” supported by a group called Let Voters Decide, would eliminate state income tax and replace it with a sales tax. According to district officials, Let Voters Decide is a committee primarily funded by prominent investor Rex Sinquefield. Superintendent Dr. Chris Gaines said potentially losing the state sales tax as a source of revenue for the district would be devastating. “There are a bunch of education groups that are opposed to this because there are concerns that it could reduce the general revenue overall,” he said. “Estimates are that the state could lose as much as $1 billion over the next few years. “If this were to pass, we could see a reduction of revenue fairly soon,” Gaines added. “Probably within two to three years, we would lose big time.” Board member Alice Klem agreed. “I’m definitely opposed to this because it would hurt schools in Missouri,” she said. Gaines said the proposed language included in the “everything tax” would not include Proposition C — a statewide 1 cent sales tax dedicated to assisting public schools. “Under the proposal, Prop C would go away,” he said. “It gives us roughly $820 per kid and that goes for all schools across the state.” Gaines said he and officials from area school districts in opposition to the “everything tax” are fearful that families already struggling financially could suffer more should the tax be approved. “We don’t believe that the sales tax would generate enough funds to replace lost income,” he said. “The tax rates set forth in the proposal aren’t sufficient to replace the lost income tax. “If the sales tax isn’t enough to replace the income tax, we’re going to be taking some big cuts,” Gaines added. District officials said the next course of action is to take their concerns to State Rep. Bart Korman. “Rep. Korman knows our opposition to the tax,” Gaines said. “We’ll also continue to monitor what’s happening.” A final decision on the “everything tax” is expected to be made in November 2014. Gaines said supporters of the tax had hoped to have the issue on the ballot this upcoming fall, but will need enough signatures supporting the tax to do so. “Historically, these groups have paid to get these signatures collected,” he said. “Let Voters Decide will likely contract with some firm to get the signatures and pay them by the signature.”