Kansas City leaders are urging voters to approve the extension of the 1% earnings tax, which has been approved since the 1960s. The tax generates approximately $373 million a year, paid for by businesses and people who live or work in the city, and accounts for nearly half of the city’s general fund. Public safety and business leaders have made an impassioned plea to keep this tax in place. If approved again, it would be phased out over the next 10 years. Despite this, leaders argue that cuts would be catastrophic if this earnings tax goes away. The city does have history on its side, with voters typically approving this tax five years.