AMENDMENT 8 RETAINS SALES TAX FOR PARKS AND EROSION CONTROL

Constitutional Amendment 8, which will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, will allow Missouri voters to decide if a one-tenth-percent sales tax should be extended for 10 more years. The sales tax, first approved by voters in 1984, is used to operate the state parks system and to help stop soil erosion. The current sales tax is the primary source of funding for both these efforts. Neither is funded by general revenue.

Amendment 8 is not a tax increase, but it is a renewal of a tax that has been in effect for the past 12 years. The current tax will expire in November 1998. The average person pays less than $10 a year on items they purchase for these two efforts.

For soil conservation, the tax has allowed great strides to be taken to keep Missouri's precious topsoil from ending up in the state's lakes and rivers. In 1982, 141.3 million tons of toil was lost from Missouri's cultivated cropland, and the state had the second highest rate of soil erosion in the nation. In 1992, this rate of soil erosion had been cut almost in half, thanks to efforts financed by this tax. This means more soil remained on the land to produce crops and less sediment polluted Missouri lakes and streams. However, there is still a lot of work to be done.

There are 113 local soil and water conservation districts in Missouri, and these districts work with the Missouri Soil and Water Districts Commission and the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service to administer the state soil and water conservation programs. Since the commission members and the local soil district supervisors serve without pay, the administrative costs are kept to a minimum.

The commission sets the policy for use of the tax money and administers it through the Department of Natural Resources' Soil and Water Conservation Program. This program offers technical expertise to landowners on the best treatment or preventative measures for their land. The landowners must invest at least 25 percent or more of the cost of installing the approved conservation practices. The landowner also agrees to maintain the practices for a determined lifespan.

Controlling erosion on Missouri's soil helps keep food plentiful and prices reasonable for future generations. This ongoing commitment to the land also keeps sediment and other pollutants out of our rivers and streams, helping to keep Missouri's water clean.

Missouri's 79 state parks and historic sites provide recreation, education and services to more than 16 million Missourians and out-of-state tourists annually. The one-tenth-percent sales tax provides 85 percent of the funding for operating, maintaining and upgrading our state parks and historic sites.

Because of a lack of funding in the 1970s and early 1980s, the state park system had fallen into a state of disrepair. Passage of the tax in 1984 enabled the department to begin an aggressive effort to repair and improve the state parks system. Hundreds of structures have been repaired and renovated. These improvements have included everything from repairs to roofs, shelter houses, rental cabins and restaurants to stabilizing historic structures. A maintenance program was established to ensure the facilities won't deteriorate.

Improvements have been made in campgrounds as well as group camps. Electricity has been added to many sites, and restroom and shower facilities have been added or upgraded. Day-use areas have been improved, and more than 100 miles of road have been resurfaced. Water and sewer systems, lagoons and wastewater treatment systems have been built or upgraded to ensure that all environmental standards are met and the parks' valuable natural resources are protected. New facilities have been built to address needs expressed by users. These improvements include new cabins, visitor centers, contact stations and exhibits.

Services to visitors have been increased. An increase in field personnel means there are more people to maintain the parks and assist the increasing number of park users. Additional law enforcement staff has been added along with more interpreters and tour guides. The tax also has allowed the department to open new areas that could not be opened before because of insufficient operating funds.

Now our state park system ranks among the best in the nation. The people of Missouri can feel proud of what has been accomplished in our state park system in the past 12 years.

In order to continue the fight against soil erosion and to maintain Missouri's state park system, please vote yes on Amendment 8. Just remember three things: This tax supports only these two efforts -- no money comes from general revenue, it extends a proven program for 10 years and it is not a tax increase.

Steve Huber of Perryville is the Area 8 director of the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.