[TN-Bird] It's Time for a Tennessee Conservation Sales Tax
- From: "Patrick March" <pamarch@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:37:52 -0600
State environmental programs (wildlife conservation, state parks, water
quality, soil conservation, etc.) directly or indirectly benefit all
residents and visitors. A state conservation sales tax appears to be the
most equitable and appropriate funding mechanism for state environmental
programs.
Missouri has had a conservation sales tax, passed via referendum, since 1977
( <http://blogs.mdc.mo.gov/blog/?p=18> http://blogs.mdc.mo.gov/blog/?p=18
). Voters overwhelmingly support the Missouri tax each time it comes up for
renewal. In November 1996, Arkansas voters passed a conservation sales tax
after ten years of effort (see
<http://www.aci-net.org/bw/03fall/arkansas.htm>
http://www.aci-net.org/bw/03fall/arkansas.htm for some excellent advice on
implementing a conservation sales tax, taken from ODYSSEY OF SURVIVAL: A
History of the Arkansas Conservation Sales Tax). The Arkansas conservation
sales tax designates 1/8th of 1 percent of the state's general sales tax for
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (45 percent), Arkansas State Parks (45
percent), Arkansas Heritage Commission (9 percent), and Keep Arkansas
Beautiful Commission (1 percent). A 3/8th of 1 percent Minnesota sales tax
was approved several years ago as a constitutional amendment (
<http://planetsave.com/2009/07/28/minnesotas-new-conservation-tax-beginning-
to-pay-dividends/>
http://planetsave.com/2009/07/28/minnesotas-new-conservation-tax-beginning-t
o-pay-dividends/ ). The Minnesota tax is expected to raise about $250
million per year for habitat protection, clean water, parks, and trails
projects. Last month, Iowa voters approved (62% in favor, 38% opposed) the
Water and Land Legacy amendment to the Iowa constitution, which allocates
3/8th of 1 percent of the next increase to the state's sales tax for
conservation projects. The Iowa amendment will create the Natural Resources
and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, expected to receive $150 million a year.
P.S.: According to a 2006 USFWS report, "Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: The
Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006" ( see
<http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/NationalSurvey/reports2006.html>
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/NationalSurvey/reports2006.html ),
wildlife watching in Tennessee had 2,362,000 participants and contributed
retail sales of $992,362,000; $612,455,711 in salaries, wages, and income;
$129,813,625 in state and local tax revenue; and 21,000 jobs. I don't know
the comparable numbers for hunting and fishing, but the numbers for birders
and other wildlife watching participants are certainly not insignificant.
Patrick March
Nashville, TN
Davidson County
pamarch@xxxxxxxxxxx
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