#2 staff story: Cedar Rapids local-option tax vote

We've surveyed our staff members and readers for their opinions, and the results are in. Between now and Jan. 1, we'll be unveiling readers' choices for the top 10 news stories of the year - one story per day. Here's the #2 story of the year, as voted by Gazette staffers.

By a 216-vote margin among some 32,000 votes cast, Cedar Rapids voters failed to approve a 20-year extension of the local-option sales tax to protect the city against future floods and to fix its streets. A committee successfully petitions to put a trimmed-down plan on the ballot in March 2012.

THE YEAR'S COVERAGE:

• Jan. 13: Corbett will ask council to hold special election to extend local-option sales tax
• Jan. 14: Majority surveyed support sales tax extension for flood protection system
• Jan. 25: Voters will decide on local-option sales tax extension
• Feb. 22: Cedar Rapids council sets ballot language for May 3 vote
• April 9: Loosely organized “Vote No” group a visible presence Saturday at the river in downtown Cedar Rapids
• May 4: Cedar Rapids metro area voters defeat tax extension by tiny margin
• May 5: Cedar Rapids not talking quick re-vote after sales-tax defeat
• May 16: Leaders learn from loss and adjust ideas
• July 25: Petition drive starts to force new local-option tax vote
• Oct. 31: Most Cedar Rapids candidates favoring flood protection system
• Dec. 7: Cedar Rapids voters to consider local-option sales tax extension March 6