David Shorr is the Director of Missouri's Department of Natural Resources.
He says the tax, which gives state park and soil conservationprograms about 28.5 million dollars each, is vital to the state.
Shorr says without the tax, Missouri's state parks would lose virtually all funding and the erosion rate of the state's soil would rise significantly.But the park and soil tax renewal is not cut and dry.
St. Louis senator Bill Clay strongly opposes the tax.
Clay says some of the tax money should be given to other areas. Clay says Forrest Park is one place that draws millions of visitors to Missouri each year but receives none of the money this tax collects because it is not a local park.However, Forrest Park does receive some of the funds.
Kennedy Forrest, a state forest, is located inside the 12- hundred acre park and is given a portion of the state tax money.
Still, Clay says this is not enough.
Clay insists that because the soil conservation program is doing so well in Missouri, the money would serve Missouri better in other areas.Shorr acknowledges the opposition, but says the money is used to the benefit of all Missouri citizens.
Despite his opposition to Shorr's comments, Bill Clay admits that he believes the tax will pass.No one, he says, will want to vote against state parks.
For KBIA's Capital Edition, I'm Jennifer Horton.
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