The Missouri Department of Natural Resources thanked Missouri voters for renewing the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax, a 0.1% sales tax that supports state parks, historic sites, and soil and water conservation efforts on the Aug. 4 ballot as Amendment 1.
“We are very honored Missouri voters demonstrated their confidence in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to protect their state parks, historic sites, water quality and soil resources,” said Kurt Schaefer, director of the department. “Because the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax sunsets every 10 years, voters are familiar with it and understand how the money is spent. I would like to extend our thanks to the voters and the numerous supporters and partners as well as to Gov. Mike Kehoe for supporting the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax.”
Revenue from the tax is split equally, with half going to Missouri’s 93 state parks and historic sites and half going to soil and water conservation practices.
“As a proud first-generation farmer and supporter of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites, I appreciate Missourians’ continued backing of this important investment,” said Kehoe. “Supporting state parks and soil conservation through funding that is not subject to the ups and downs of general revenue benefits all Missourians. Thank you to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the many agriculture and conservation partners for their work in advocating for this extension of the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax.”
The tax generates about $136 million annually.
Missouri is one of eight states that allows free access to its state parks and historic sites, according to the department. More than 20 million people, including 1.3 million overnight guests, visit Missouri’s state park system annually. The department said the system consistently receives a 96% approval rating from guests.
An economic impact analysis conducted by the University of Missouri found Missouri’s state park system generates about $1.5 billion in total business sales and supports nearly 12,000 jobs. The system operates on a $68 million annual budget.
The tax also supports soil and water conservation practices. According to the department, the state has saved 195 million tons of soil from eroding off Missouri farmland since 1984. Through fiscal year 2025, Missouri farmers had implemented almost 295,000 conservation practices for cropland, hayland, pastureland and woodlands. Those practices have been supported by more than $1 billion from the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax since 1984.
“Now that we have the assurance to move forward to completion, we are setting our sights forward to the next 10 years,” Schaefer said. “Our vision is a future where Missouri’s natural and cultural resources only continue to improve over the next decade, thanks to the passage of the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax.”
For the Division of State Parks, the next 10 years are expected to include completion of 28 revenue bond projects across 22 state parks in 21 counties, along with $15 million in capital improvement projects. Planned projects include work at Montauk State Park campground loop 5, lodging renovations at Thousand Hills and Bennett Spring state parks and a museum gallery renovation at Missouri Mines State Historic Site.
The department also plans to open Shepherd of the Hills and Eleven Point state parks to public use, celebrate 100-year anniversaries at Roaring River, Meramec and Washington state parks, install additional storm warning sirens in campgrounds and upgrade playgrounds across the state.
The Soil and Water Conservation Program will continue working with Missouri farmers on conservation practices intended to sustain agricultural land and improve water quality. Program goals include advancing conservation research and monitoring, evaluating practices that improve resilience to drought and floods, increasing state and local technical assistance and streamlining processes for conservation work.
First passed in 1984, Missouri’s Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax requires voter approval every 10 years. It would have expired in 2028 if voters had not renewed it this year.
More information is available on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources website, dnr.mo.gov.
