MARIES COUNTY — Voters will be asked on Aug. 4 to renew a decades-old soil and water conservation sales tax for another 10 years through Amendment 1 on the upcoming ballot. From erosion-control projects on local farms to conservation practices designed to protect streams and waterways,  the historic sales tax has helped fund soil and water initiatives across the state.

The proposed constitutional amendment would continue Missouri’s existing one-tenth of one percent Parks, Soil and Water Sales Tax for another decade. The measure would not create a new tax or increase the current rate. Instead, it would renew a funding source that has supported Missouri’s state parks, historic sites and soil and water conservation efforts for more than 40 years.

The origins of the tax can be traced to concerns that emerged decades earlier. During the 1930s Dust Bowl, an estimated 300 million tons of soil were displaced across the nation, the devastating effect of erosion on farmland and natural resources. The crisis prompted lawmakers and agricultural leaders to place greater emphasis on soil conservation and land stewardship.

Missouri established the State Soil and Water Districts Commission in 1943 to oversee conservation efforts and assist local districts in protecting the state’s soil and water resources. The following year, Harrison County became Missouri’s first soil and water conservation district. By 1996, all 114 Missouri counties had organized local districts dedicated to conservation and responsible land management.

The Maries County Soil and Water Conservation District was established in 1967 after county landowners approved a local referendum creating the district. Since then, local farmers and landowners have been able to participate in conservation programs and apply for cost-share assistance to address soil erosion and water-quality concerns on their property.

Today, each soil and water conservation district in Missouri is governed by a five-member board of supervisors. Four members are agricultural landowners elected by local voters, while the fifth representative is appointed through University of Missouri Extension.

The Maries County Soil and Water Conservation District Board consists of Chair Jan Skouby, Vice Chair Sam Helton, Treasurer Mark Kloeppel, Member Charity Satterfield and Secretary Gatlin Bunton.

Supporters of Amendment 1 point to the dramatic improvements Missouri has achieved since the sales tax was first approved. In 1982, Missouri cropland was losing soil at an average rate of 10.9 tons per acre annually, one of the highest erosion rates in the nation.

Since the tax’s implementation in 1984, Missouri has recorded one of the most significant reductions in soil erosion among states with extensive agricultural production. State conservation officials estimate that more than 179 million tons of soil have been preserved through conservation practices supported by the program.

Revenue generated through the sales tax is divided equally between Missouri State Parks and the Department of Natural Resources’ Soil and Water Conservation Program.

For consumers, the tax amounts to one cent on a $10 purchase or 10 cents on a $100 purchase. While the individual cost is relatively small, supporters argue the combined revenue has provided a reliable source of funding for both conservation efforts and Missouri’s state park system.

The conservation portion of the funding helps support cost-share programs that allow farmers and landowners to work with local conservation districts to install practices designed to reduce erosion, improve soil health and protect water quality. These projects may include erosion-control structures, grass waterways, cover crops, rotational grazing systems, livestock watering facilities and other improvements intended to keep valuable topsoil in place and reduce sediment runoff into streams and rivers.

Supporters contend that the program represents a partnership between farmers and the state, with both sharing the cost of conservation improvements that provide long-term benefits to agricultural productivity and natural resources.

The sales tax has consistently received strong support from Missouri voters. It was renewed in 1988 and 1996 by margins exceeding two-thirds of the vote. In 2006, more than 70 percent of voters approved renewal, and in 2016 all Missouri counties voted in favor of extending the tax, resulting in its highest level of statewide support at 80.1 percent.

Supporters say the program has become a model for other states because it provides dedicated funding for conservation efforts rather than relying entirely on annual appropriations. They argue that soil health, erosion control and water quality remain important issues for Missouri agriculture and that continued investment is necessary to protect both farmland and natural resources.

Opponents generally approach the measure from a broader tax policy perspective, arguing that voters should carefully evaluate any tax renewal and that government programs should periodically justify continued funding. Some also contend that conservation and park programs should compete for funding through the state’s regular budgeting process rather than through a dedicated sales tax.

If approved, Amendment 1 would continue the existing Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax for another decade. If rejected, the tax would eventually expire, requiring lawmakers to identify alternative funding sources or reduce funding for programs currently supported by the measure.