The St. Charles school board Thursday night rejected a resolution that would have urged voters not to sign petitions in support of replacing Missouri's income tax with a higher sales tax.

Citing a need for more information, members voted 5-2 against the resolution.

If petitioners are successful in getting the tax initiative on the ballot, then Missouri voters would decide whether to eliminate the state's income tax and enact the so-called "Everything Tax," a sales tax of up to 7 percent on retail sales, personal property and taxable services.

"There was uncertainness as to what it means in terms of taxes and whether this is a negative or positive for the district," said board President Linda Schulte. "We certainly support all the money we can get for the school district."

Randal Charles, superintendent of the St. Charles School District, said the proposed sales tax would fall far short of replacing the revenue generated by the income tax.

Opponents of the sales tax say it would have the most negative impact on low-income residents, who would have to pay more for just about everything they buy.

"We all know that lower-income families spend a greater proportion of their incomes to buy those day-to-day things," Charles said.

Schulte and board members Mike Thorne, Dale Hallemeier, Tim Bekebrede and Wayne Oetting voted against the resolution. Donna Towers and Lori Gibson voted for it.

"Everything that goes on in our district involves politics," Towers said. "I think a new sales tax would be more harmful than the income tax."