Photo Credit: Dan Videtich


Frequently Asked Questions

What is dedicated conservation funding?

  • It is funding allocated for the purpose of expanding conservation efforts, improving outdoor recreation, and enhancing natural resources across the state.

Where would dedicated conservation funding come from? 

  • 75% of Mississippi voters support dedicated conservation funding coming from a diversion of the existing sales tax on sporting goods items.

How would these funds be used?

  • The funding generated would be used to improve outdoor recreational opportunities in communities across Mississippi, improve access to public lands and waters, and support habitat and wildlife restoration on public and private lands.

Is this a tax increase?

  • No, this would not be a tax increase. It would utilize a portion of the existing sales tax already collected on outdoor sporting goods items.

Why is dedicated conservation funding important?

  • A dedicated funding source would provide a consistent amount of annual funding to help secure additional federal and private matching funds. Those funds would be used to improve outdoor recreational areas in communities across Mississippi, improve access to public lands and waters, and support habitat and wildlife restoration on public and private lands.

Have surrounding states benefitted from dedicated conservation funding?

  • Yes. For example, in 2019 Georgia allocated $20 million towards dedicated conservation funding. In return, an additional $70 million were leveraged from federal and private sources resulting in a total of nearly $100 million investment towards conservation and outdoor recreation efforts across the state.

The Miss Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund was created for the purpose of expanding conservation efforts, improving outdoor recreation, and enhancing natural resources across the state.

75% of Mississippi voters support dedicated conservation funding.

The funding generated would be used to improve outdoor recreational opportunities in communities across Mississippi, improve access to public lands and waters, and support habitat and wildlife restoration on public and private lands.

A dedicated funding source will provide a consistent amount of annual funding to help secure additional federal and private matching funds. Those funds will be used to improve outdoor recreational areas in communities across Mississippi, improve access to public lands and waters, and support habitat and wildlife restoration on public and private lands.