A couple of state representatives believe Missouri schools should be able to raise money for capital improvements through something other than the property tax. Missouri schools rely heavily on the property tax, too heavily says Representative D.J. Davis of Odessa who is promoting a bill that would allow schools to use an income tax surcharge or a sales tax to pay off capital expenses. The bill would allow an income tax surcharge of up to 15-percent for three years or a short-term sales tax to pay for a new library, gym or other such improvements. Local voters would have to approve the tax by a simple majority. Both Davis and Representative Roy Holand of Springfield promote it as an avenue for schools to get away from long-term property tax hikes and the high interest payments they carry. Holand says Pennsylvania has funded schools with income tax for years and Ohio, Kentucky and Iowa have all begun experimenting with income and sales taxes to fund schools.