By KBIA
St. Louis, MO. – The sales of all those sparklers, shells and bottle rockets at fireworks stands in Missouri are contributing to the state's bottom line.
Missouri Department of Revenue spokesperson Maura Browning says the revenue from fireworks stands in 2004 was more than $48 millio, $2 million of which is kept by the state in sales tax.
One seller near Columbia, Bob Gerau, says he believes the money fireworks sales bring in may help keep them legal in Missouri.
"Why do you think Missouri has fireworks? It's a great revenue producer for the state," Gerau said. "That's one of the reasons that Missouri will keep it, because they have an edge over the other states."
The two million in sales tax is used toward the state's education trust fund, and toward Missouri parks.