The higher taxes would generate between $263 million and $374 million each year, with the revenues placed in an Early Childhood Health and Education Trust Fund and used for early childhood education.

Supporters say raising Missouri’s lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax would help catch up to other states in state-backed preschool funding. Missouri taxes cigarettes at 17 cents per pack while the national average is $1.65 per pack.

Opponents say funds raised by the measure would be controlled by an unelected commission rather than through the legislative process.

Proposition A

Cigarette tax increase for transportation infrastructure

A second cigarette tax increase proposal would phase in a 23-cent increase over five years, with the proceeds going to fix roads and bridges. The proposal also would increase the tax that sellers pay on other tobacco products by 5 percent of the manufacturer’s invoice price.

When fully implemented, the tax increases would generate approximately $95 million to $103 million annually.

Both tax increase measures have been opposed by groups including the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, which say neither increase is big enough.