MISSOURI TRAVEL
COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE REPORT
The
Missouri Legislature has passed and sent
to the governor a new state budget that
includes the largest budget in the
history of the Division of Tourism
budget. The agency's new budget will be
almost 21 million dollars. That is the
amount recommended by Governor Matt
Blunt.
Already
passed by the legislature is an
extension on the sunset date for the
tourism funding mechanism from 2010 to
2015.
And a
joint conference committee has agreed on
a final version of an education bill
that includes changes in the school
start date to benefit the tourism and
travel industry.
The
legislature this past week also passed
and sent to the governor an omnibus
economic development bill that increases
the cap on tax credits for film
production in Missouri from 1.5 million
dollars to 10.5 million dollars. In
addition, the bill provides a state
sales tax exemption on aviation fuel
used for transoceanic flights into and
out of Missouri. This bill could be in
jeopardy, though, as the high price tag
of the economic development bill, about
100 million dollars, may cause the
governor to veto it.
Dale Amick
Legislative Consultant
Missouri Travel Council
