CREST delivers another opportunity

The Gazette Editorial Board

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We're glad to see that a proposed extension of the local-option sales tax to pay for Cedar Rapids flood protection is back on the ballot. Its role is more important than ever. And we think this version of LOST stands a better chance of being approved by voters.

On May 3, voters narrowly defeated a proposal that would have extended the current five-year LOST by another 20 years. Half of it would have gone for flood protection with 40 percent targeted for street repairs and 10 percent for property-tax relief.

Our take, and the consensus of many other folks we've heard from, is that the May referendum failed because of how it was structured, not because the majority of voters in the metro area don't support flood protection. The 20-year term and using half of it for other purposes didn't sit well with many residents. That doesn't mean they're satisfied with the state of streets, but they want the city to find other ways to address that serious need.

The mayor and city council led the charge for the May 3 proposal. After its defeat, they deferred to others to handle any renewed attempt. Two months after the failed referendum, a grass-roots group called Cedar Rapids Extended Sales Tax launched a petition drive to collect the required number of signatures - 4,032 - needed to put a revised proposal back on the ballot on March 6. It calls for a 10-year extension with all the money going for flood protection.

CREST submitted nearly 5,000 signatures on Tuesday. We congratulate the group for their success. Now it's up to voters to reconsider what's at stake.

The scenario has changed somewhat, but it only makes the LOST vote more significant.

Before the vote, the Army Corps of Engineers had approved flood protection for only the heavily commercial/industrial east side. The federal government is supposed to cover 75 percent of the $100 million-plus cost, the city 25 percent. But with Congress struggling to address its budget problems, it's not clear when money to complete the design phase, let alone construction, will be appropriated.

The 10-year LOST extension would help fund protection on both sides, as it should. Economic development capacity and rebuilding core neighborhoods are vital to the west side and our community.

CREST has done its job. In March, voters can signal Congress that we're willing to continue doing our part to protect the state's second-largest city and economic engine - and thus continue to warrant federal assistance. A LOST extension also could convince state legislators to reconsider a plan to direct more state assistance toward Cedar Rapids flood protection.

Yes, it's all expensive, but not nearly as much as another disaster on the scale of the 2008 flood would be if we don't do anything.

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