The tax, levied on earned income of residents and anyone who works in the city, represents an estimated 35 percent of St. Louis’ general budget.

Koran Addo, spokesman for St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, said the $179 million generated by the tax is “critically important to the city.”

“Without the earnings tax, the city would likely have to make drastic cuts to personnel and services,” Addo said, pointing to police and fire protection, street repairs and parks maintenance projects.

Two years ago, six separate proposals took aim at the earnings tax. Among the sponsors were Republican Reps. Shamed Dogan of Ballwin and Justin Hill of Lake Saint Louis.

Democratic lawmakers from St. Louis accused the Republican sponsor of one of the plans of pandering to retired investor Rex Sinquefield, a mega donor who spent $2 million trying to persuade voters to dump the tax in 2016.