( KTRS ) With all precincts reporting, voters in Missouri’s two biggest cities have overwhelmingly renewed the earnings tax.

The tax requires those who work in Kansas City or St. Louis to pay a 1 percent tax on their pay. Because nonresidents also must pay, thousands of commuters from the neighboring states of Kansas and Illinois are affected.

Seventy-two percent of the ballots cast in St. Louis were in favor of the measure. Voters will revisit the matter in five years.

Supporters said losing the revenue would mean cuts in services. Opponents counter that the tax is unfair and that eliminating it would force the cities to weed out fraud and redundant services.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay released this statement on the vote : “There has been a good week of news for City residents. First, NGA; now a resounding victory for Yes on E.  City voters rejected a very dangerous gamble with our public safety and credit rating.  The people who helped win tonight – as grassroots as you can get – are now poised to do even more great things.”