There is growing opposition to a tax charged by some Missouri municipalities on utilities and other companies using public rights-of-way. Two bills aimed at doing away with what is labelled a hidden tax are being mulled over by legislators. One has been introduced in the House; the other in the Senate. Business and consumer groups agree that any tax charged to electric, gas, or telephone companies is eventually passed along to consumers. They say the legislation before the House and Senate would provide the means for cities and towns to recover the actual costs and manage their rights-of-way, but it would prohibit municipalities from charging right-of-way users additional fees.
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