From Linda McArthur, Steelville, Mo. Ambulance District, The Float Capital of Missouri Senate Bill 534: The Tourist Tax

The proposed legislation would allow certain Missouri counties to levy a 25-cent fee on tourist activities such as music show tickets and canoe rentals. Crawford county presiding commis sioner Art Hughes supports the bill. "This bill is of particular interest to Crawford County because of the large number of tourists, especially during the floating season. The county's tax base is not large enough to effectively fund emergency service for both the residents and the tourist population. The Steelville Ambulance District has been hard hit and has found it financially difficult to operate." (Rolla Daily News, Feb. 13, 1994, 7A)

During the summer months as many as 7 of 10 Steelville ambulance runs on a weekend for the tourist population. People come into our county from several states. When they get back home, these people often forget about the small ambulance service that transported them to the hospital. For less than the price of a postage stamp, the tourist population could help provide equipment and trained personnel. We are taxed beyond what the taxpayers of this county can provide. If out of the 18 rafting and canoe facilities in our county, each one puts 200 canoes and rafts on the river in one day, that is 3600. It is not unusual for one of the facilities to put 3000 canoes and rafts on the river in just one weekend.

Missouri State Senator Mike Lybyer presented the bill. The funds will be used solely by the county for funding public safety services, including but not limited to, fire protection services and ambulance services, and for funding the promotion of tourism within the county. No more than 20% of the funds generated can be used to promote tourism.

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