Amendment 1: Defining the Missouri landscape

by Estil Fretwell

Last weekend Missourians headed outdoors by the tens of thousands as Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of summer. Farmers were busy in their fields with this year’s crops. Visitors flocked to our state parks and historic sites. Canoeists, fishermen and families enjoyed our clean streams and rivers.

Few of them realized their activities during the weekend, and in fact year-round, are shaped by a small sales tax that has yielded big results in Missouri for more than two decades. The one-tenth-of-one-cent parks-and-soil sales tax has funded our soil and water conservation programs and state parks since 1984 and is largely responsible for Missouri making remarkable strides in these vital areas. Every 10 years, this statewide sales tax comes before Missouri voters for renewal; on Aug. 8, voters will once again have the opportunity to care for our parks, farmland and clean water by voting yes on Amendment 1.

When Missourians chose to fund their state parks and soil conservation through this dedicated sales tax 22 years ago, they established an efficient and effective revenue stream that directly impacts designated programs. Because of its long history, the parks-and-soil sales tax can be traced to visible, measurable results statewide.

Half of the sales tax is dedicated to conserving Missouri’s soil and water resources. Since 1984 the tax has provided funding assistance for more than 70 watershed projects and has helped landowners implement effective soil conservation practices. During this time Missouri has decreased its erosion rates by half, saving more than 148 million tons of soil and protecting our streams from sediment.

With an estimated 3.7 million Missouri acres still eroding above tolerable levels, Amendment 1 will continue to work to protect Missouri’s soil and water resources for future generations.

The other half of the parks-and-soil sales tax goes to Missouri state parks and historic sites, with the majority of the park funds used to repair and improve existing locations. Visitor centers, campgrounds, roads and other facilities were repaired, and a maintenance program was established to ensure our parks stay in good shape. In addition to upgrading campgrounds and day sites to welcome more visitors, the infrastructure was improved at 30 state parks.

Today, thanks in large part to Amendment 1, Missouri’s state parks play a major role in tourism, one of the state’s largest industries. We now have 83 state parks and historic sites with 140,000 acres, plus 61,000 acres in the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. More than 17 million people visit our state parks each year for an annual economic impact of $538 million.

It is important to note that our soil conservation programs and state parks do not receive any general revenue from the state. Our Missouri state parks, clean water and soil conservation are totally dependent on this sales tax. Funds generated by the statewide sales tax are earmarked for state parks and soil conservation; by law, the funds can not be used for any other purpose.

This August is the third time Missourians have an opportunity to renew this dedicated funding for soil conservation and state parks. This is because the funding measure contains a sunset clause that requires that the tax come before voters regularly for reauthorization. This ensures accountability to taxpayers, with voters weighing in on the tax’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Clearly Amendment 1 is good for Missouri — both today and for the future. Look around you throughout the summer and you’ll see why. It’s a small sales tax that has a big impact for all Missourians through effective soil conservation, healthy water resources and a well-maintained state park system.

(Estil Fretwell is director of public affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau.)