The Missouri primary election is over. Hopefully you all took time for your civic duty and cast your ballots for the candidates you believe best represent your interest and your views on the issues. Thankfully the non-stop vitriol of campaign advertising will subside for a few days before the November election nears.
As for the primary election, the Conservation Federation of Missouri sent an open letter to state residents asking for careful examination of a proposal, championed by at least one candidate for governor – Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft – to eliminate the state income tax.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the federation is prohibited from endorsing or opposing individual candidates. The group is allowed to advocate for or against causes that affect its mission “to ensure conservation of Missouri’s wildlife and natural resources, and preservation of our state’s rich outdoor legacy through advocacy, education and partnerships.”
While the elimination of the state income tax sounds appealing in a stump speech, the proposal to do that includes redirecting state sales taxes that were approved by voters to fund conservation and parks. Rather than being held exclusively for protecting the outdoors, reducing soil erosion, and having public lands available for all to use, the state legislature would determine how that sales tax revenue is spent.
“The one-eighth of one percent conservation sales tax and the one-tenth of one percent Parks, Soils, and Water sales tax have been investments not only in our outdoor resources, but also for our rural communities,” the letter states. “We rely on these sales tax revenues to help our farmers conserve soil and water so we can feed others and to provide safe, welcoming places for all Missourians to enjoy the outdoors for free.”
The one-eighth “Design for Conservation” sales tax provides more than 60 percent of the budget for our state Department of Conservation, which is recognized as one of the best in the country. Its science-based regulations and research protect and provide for our natural spaces and their inhabitants. The facilities, information, enforcement and everything else the conservation department provides could never be adequately funded by user fees or other sources.
The Parks, Soils and Water sales tax is reauthorized regularly by voters as required. We have had our say in how that money should be directed, and that voice has been loud and clear.
“The last approval of the Parks, Soils and Water sales tax, which provides over $40 million annually to support Missouri farmers and landowners, was supported by more than 80 percent of Missouri voters and passed in each of our 114 counties,” according to the federation letter. “Transferring dedicated sales taxes to Missouri’s General Revenue would overturn this broad support and make these dollars subject to political whims.”
The letter suggests that readers do an internet search for “shifting funds to eliminate Missouri income tax” to get more details on the proposal.
While the primary election window has passed, the plan is likely to rise again in future proposed legislation. The Missouri General Assembly has tried for years to chip away at the governance provided by the constitutional amendment that established the Conservation Commission and the funding that the sales tax provides. Those of us who treasure the outdoors need to be vigilant about proposals that compromise voter wishes.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.