Renewal of Missouri's State Parks, Soil, and Water Sales Tax is up for a vote by the citizenry in the general election November 8 as Amendment #1, and a bipartisan array of supporters urge a strong "Yes" vote.
This is not a new tax. It is simply a renewal of a small 1/10th of one percent sales tax split equally between parks and soils that was initially submitted to a vote of the people in 1984 by the Missouri General Assembly. It was a response to financial crisis, when the park budget was reduced by half and there was talk of closing parks. At the same time, Missouri was staggering under the second-greatest rate of soil erosion in the nation.
The measure barely passed that first time. But by the time it came up for renewal in 1988, both the parks and soil conservation programs in the Department of Natural Resources had demonstrated such good stewardship of the new funds that the public could see the results -- campground upgrades, new visitor centers, infrastructure rehabilitation, and restoration of historic buildings in parks as well as effective soil and water conservation practices on Missouri farms -- and the vote was an overwhelming two-to-one in favor. Each time since then, in 1996 and 2006, the margin of victory was even greater.
Renewal is now more critical than ever for our popular state park system, because legislators withdrew all general revenue funding for parks during a fiscal crisis in 1990 and it has never been restored. The park sales tax now must provide 75 percent of the total operating budget, including staff salaries; the other 25 percent comes mostly from fees for services like camping, lodging, and boat rentals. Our parks are now utterly dependent on the tax to keep the doors open for visitors. This they do very well with superb management by devoted staff, increased help by volunteers, and creative partnerships for some special projects.
Missouri is one of the few states without any entrance fee for state parks, since citizens pay through the sales tax. It is a bargain, amounting to only about $7 per year for each of us. Our parks now welcome more than 19 million visitors a year, the tenth highest state park attendance in the nation, and these visits provide more than $1 billion a year in economic impact statewide. For every $1 invested in our parks, some $26 return to our economy, mostly through small businesses in the vicinity of parks.
Moreover, we enjoy a truly exceptional system of 88 state parks and historic sites that is remarkably representative, both naturally and culturally, of our diverse state. The quality of resources and excellence in planning and management of Missouri's system have been recognized nationally by its selection seven times, far more than any other state, as a finalist in the Gold Medal Award of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Missouri also recently was selected Best Trails State and Favorite State for Camping.
The state's program for soil and water conservation has also garnered national attention. Missouri has gone from the second greatest rate of erosion to the greatest rate of erosion reduction through cost-shared implementation by landowners of more than 229,000 soil and water conservation practices, including stream buffers, sediment basins, cover crops and grazing systems. More than 179 million tons of soil have been saved since the inception of the tax, greatly improving water quality and soil health.
Other states also admire the Missouri model of cooperation between park and agricultural interests. Leaders of dozens of groups across the spectrum from the Missouri Farm Bureau to the Conservation Federation to the Sierra Club enjoy working together as the Citizens Committee for Soil, Water and State Parks on educational and campaign efforts for each ten-year renewal. To see articles and videos and download materials, visit https://soilwaterparks.com/.
In this volatile election season with many bewildering ballot issues, it is important to talk with your friends and neighbors about the many benefits and the critical need to vote "Yes" on Amendment #1 on the November 8 ballot. Together, we can ensure the future of programs vital to our quality of life, our health, and our economy. Let's keep a good thing going.
Flader is a retired University of Missouri history professor and past president of the Missouri Parks Association.
