Natalie Johnson, Executive Director

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Bryant Creek State Park alongside some of our allied conservation partners. I spent the day soaking in the beauty of one of Missouri’s newest state parks—a place of towering oaks and pines, glades bursting with native flowers, and a scenic waterway that gives the park its name while offering an excellent place to paddle. It was a wonderful reminder of just how special Missouri’s landscapes truly are. It was also a powerful reminder that places like this remain wild because people make the conscious decision to protect them.

One of the ways Missourians have chosen to protect these places is through the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax. On August 4, voters will decide whether to continue this constitutionally authorized one-tenth of one percent sales and use tax for another 10 years through Amendment 1. If approved, Amendment 1 would continue the existing tax; it would not create a new tax or change the current tax rate.

Unlike many funding decisions that are made through the state’s annual budget process, the Parks, Soils & Water Sales Tax is authorized by the Missouri Constitution. Because the tax is established in the Constitution, continuing it requires approval by Missouri voters through a constitutional amendment. The General Assembly cannot simply extend it through ordinary legislation.

In other words, this isn’t simply a budget decision—it’s a constitutional question that Missouri’s voters are asked to answer every ten years, a structure Missouri voters put in place more than forty years ago to keep this choice with future generations, not just elected officials.

According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, revenue from the tax supports two primary purposes:

• Missouri State Parks and historic sites, providing approximately 75% of the operating budget for the state park system. That includes places many Missourians know and love—from Bryant Creek State Park and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park to Elephant Rocks State Park, Ha Ha Tonka State Park, and more across Missouri.
• Missouri’s Soil and Water Conservation Program, which supports local soil and water conservation districts in all 114 Missouri counties. These districts work with farmers and other landowners to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, protect streams and rivers, and conserve one of Missouri’s most valuable natural resources—its soil.

Supporters of continuing the tax often point to its economic impact. A comprehensive economic impact analysis conducted by the University of Missouri, released by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources this July, found that the state park system’s $68 million annual operating budget generates approximately $1.5 billion in total business sales for Missouri and supports nearly 12,000 jobs statewide. The same analysis found that visitors spend real money locally: a typical day-trip runs somewhere between $46 and $67, while an overnight stay pushes that spending up to a range of $64 to $148—money that lands directly in nearby restaurants, shops, and lodging in communities across the state. (Source: Missouri State Parks, Facts and Figures)

As with any tax renewal, voters may weigh different considerations. Some may feel strongly about limiting the length or scope of dedicated taxes, regardless of the rate or the specific use of funds, while others may prioritize the funding stability that a constitutionally dedicated tax provides for parks and conservation programs.

At Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, we won’t tell you how to vote. We do, however, believe it is important to help our community understand the issues that shape Missouri’s environment and natural resources. As Election Day approaches, we encourage everyone to read the official ballot language, explore information from a variety of reliable sources, and make an informed decision when casting their ballot.