SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The city of Springfield is trying to divvy up tax money that was originally supposed to go to the Wonders of Wildlife Museum at Bass Pro Shops.

Back in 2011, the museum stopped taking revenue from the city’s lodging tax.
       
Wonders of Wildlife closed in 2007, and in 2011, Johnny Morris made the decision to donate any tax revenue the museum received while it was closed.

Morris also decided to give up any future revenues from the lodging tax after 2011.

The tax is equal to five percent of the cost of a night and the proceeds go toward tourism projects in Springfield.

About $500,000 was going to Wonders of Wildlife each year, but now the city council keeps about $200,000 annually to pay for Jordan Valley Park improvements and the other $300,000 is given to non-profits in the form of grants.

Past recipients of this money in the last few years include the Discovery Center, the History Museum on the Square and Lake Country Soccer Park.

“Lake Country Soccer, the funding that they received is going to allow for some facility improvements that will allow them to host more teams for the tournaments that they do,” said Tracy Kimberlin, CEO of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. “So that right there is a way you can measure the benefit of getting some of these funds.”
    
The money is managed each year by Springfield’s Hotel and Motel Tax Reallocation Committee. The committee will hold another meeting May 18th to explain the application process.