Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax

It was cultural anthropologist and academic Margaret Mead who once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This is certainly true when it comes to the efforts behind the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax and the Conservation Sales Tax. And in telling the story of the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax, It indeed is a story of just a handful of people, working to obtain funding to address soil erosion in Missouri, though it eventually was accomplished by the coordinating efforts of thousands of people throughout our great state.

Once upon a time, there was significant soil erosion in this state. In fact, Missouri had the second highest erosion rate of any state in the Union. In order to address this plight, Representative Jerry Burch introduced a House bill in 1982, to take half of the 1/8 cent conservation tax to address soil erosion problems. Many believed the bill was doomed from the start; however, the bill passed on the floor of the house.

At that time there was a gentleman by the name of Merle Doughty (pronounced “Dough”ty) from Livingston County who was asked to testify before the Senate on this House bill. Merle had testified many other times in Washington D.C. and Missouri in his quest to gain funding and support to address soil erosion in Missouri. As the story goes, immediately following the failed senate vote, which drew quite a crowd, Representative LeRoy Braungardt, 49th district from Moscow Mills, approached Merle and said “Merle, if you will get in and work as hard to help me as you did on this bill, I will introduce a 1/8 cent sales tax of our own to address the erosion problems in Missouri.” This was a much better plan than using half of the critical funds that Missouri citizens already had determined they wanted to go toward forest, fish and wildlife conservation efforts in Missouri.

Also during this time our beloved state parks system was reeling from tremendous federal budget cuts and the inability to fill the gap of the reduced funding. Building and equipment maintenance were the first to go with the reduced budget, and our beautiful parks and sites were falling into disrepair.

Soil conservation and state park operations may have seemed like the proverbial odd couple, until you examine their common, but double-edged challenge. Both serve the entire population of the state of Missouri. Both encourage greater use of their respective natural resources. Yet both are required to protect those same resources from overuse, damage or potential depletion. Dividing the tax between the two efforts seemed to make the most sense.

A Citizens Committee for Soil, Water and State Parks was established in summer 1983. This group would be responsible for raising funds and gathering supporters for the sales tax that was placed on the August 1984 ballot as the Soils and Parks tax – Constitutional Amendment No. 2. How did the committee share information about Constitutional Amendment No. 2? You name it … they did it - brochures, displays, booths, fairs and festivals, billboards, yard signs, flyers, newspaper, radio and tv ads, stories and editorials, presentations to service clubs, civic groups, chamber of commerce’s, Marlin Perkins, host of the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom agreed to be the honorary chairman of the committee and completed two public service announcements, slide shows displayed at local movie theaters, bumper stickers, caps, t-shirts, mailings and special events.

The Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax was approved by Missouri voters in 1984, as a constitutional amendment.

The Missouri state park system is recognized as one of the top-ranked state parks systems in the nation, welcoming nearly 20 million visitors and more than one million overnight guests annually. The park system consistently receives a 97% approval rating from guests. Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, has a 100-year-old tradition of preserving and interpreting the state’s most outstanding natural landscapes and cultural features while providing recreational opportunities to the public. Missouri State Parks is committed to updating the facilities while also preserving historic structures. 

Half of the revenue from the sales tax is used to operate, maintain and improve the state park system. This revenue accounts for approximately 75% of the park system’s budget. The portion of the sales tax that supports state parks averages $10 a year per Missourian. Missouri is one of only eight states that does not charge entrance fees into its parks and historic sites. Other states charge $10 or more for a one-time visit.

How the tax helps:

• Allows free admission to all state parks and historic sites.
• Enriches visitor experiences with improvements, such as the new Spirit Trail and playground at Knob Noster State Park, a new visitor center at Deutscheim State Historic Site and upgraded playgrounds at Bothwell Lodge, and Bennett Spring state parks.
• Offers a variety of overnight accommodations from walk-in campsites to full service cabins and modern lodges.
• Enhances campground amenities such as upgraded electric, showerhouses and restrooms.
• Improves accessibility, including track chairs, 360-degree virtual tours and tram tours for senior citizens.
• Provides ongoing maintenance and repair of more than 2,000 structures, 3,000 campsites and 1,000 miles of trail.

Missouri’s award-winning state park system would not be possible without the commitment and support of many partners, including organizations like Conservation Federation of Missouri, and of course the public’s support of the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax. The tax continues to allow our Missouri State Parks to remain free and open to all visitors and continued maintenance and improvements are needed to ensure those visitors have the best experience possible.

Half of the revenue from the sales tax is used for preserving soil and protecting Missouri's water resources for future generations. The majority of the 
soil and water portion of the tax is used to assist agricultural landowners through voluntary programs developed by the Soil and Water Districts Commission and administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Soil and Water Conservation Program, through soil and water conservation district boards in each of the 114 counties. 

The Soil and Water Conservation Cost-share Program was developed to provide financial incentives to help landowners implement soil and water conservation practices. The program provides partial reimbursement for installing soil and water conservation practices that prevent or control excessive erosion and improve water quality. The program also provides funding for research and water quality monitoring to identify new methods of soil and water conservation practices that produce the best results.

Since 1984, Missouri farmers have implemented more than 288,000 structural and management conservation practices on cropland, hayland, pastureland and woodlands. Through these conservation efforts, Missouri has stopped more than 193 million tons of soil from eroding, enough to fill the lanes of I-70 from St. Louis to Kansas City over 52 feet high. These practices were supported by over $919 million from the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax since 1984.

How the tax helps:

• Provides grants to each of the Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Districts to provide technical assistance for landowners, in addition to information and educational programs.
• Improves water quality and protects water resources by educating and incentivizing Missouri landowners to implement practices that improve water infiltration and reduce runoff.
• Retains valuable topsoil. Before the sales tax was implemented, Missouri lost soil at a rate of 10.8 tons per acre each year on cropland. That number has been reduced to 4.8 tons per acre each year.

Missouri’s Soil and Water Conservation Cost-share Program is a model for the nation. The dedicated and voter-approved sales tax is one-of-a-kind and provides steady, reliable support to promote best management practices that keep soil in the field and waterways clean.