Cedar Rapids feels legislative support for flood protection plan

DES MOINES – Mayor Ron Corbett left the Capitol April 13 with a good feeling that lawmakers and state officials “understand why we're doing what we're doing and why the state needs to play a role.”

“I think they agree with our plan. It's just a matter of how they pay for it,” Corbett said after he, city council members, city staff and members of the business community spent the day explaining Cedar Rapids' proposed $375 million flood protection system to decision-makers.

Most were familiar with the concept – allowing Cedar Rapids to pay for $200 million of the cost of levees, concrete walls, and removable flood walls and pumps by retaining $200 million in sales tax revenues over a number of years. Cedar Rapids and Linn County send about $180 million a year to the state in sale tax revenues.

A 12-member House-Senate task force that will meet again April 14 is expected to kick out a draft bill detailing how the state will participate in funding the project.

“Our main purpose (Wednesday) was to do a little retail lobbying with the general membership of the Legislature who haven't been as close to the issue as the working group,” the mayor said. He also talked to representatives of the governor's office.

Throughout the day, the Cedar Rapids delegation used pictures, diagrams, cost comparisons and samples of removable flood walls to explain the plan to lawmakers and others.

City Manager Jeff Pomeranz fielded several questions about how the city decided on a particular plan to protect the city central core on both side of the Cedar River from flooding like it experienced in 2008. Damage from that flood is estimated to be $5 billion or more and the city is still recovering.

They wanted to dispel any suggestion they were asking the state to fund a “Cadillac” plan. In fact, Corbett said, the plan is one of the more inexpensive options the city looked considered.

They also waned to impress on lawmakers the importance of a recovered and revitalized Cedar Rapids to the economic vitality of the state. Without flood protection, Corbett said it will be hard to convince new and existing businesses to invest in Cedar Rapids.

In addition to the state funds, Linn County voters will be asked May 3 to extend a local option sales tax for 20 years. Fifty percent of that revenue will be used for flood recovery and protection.

The state funding is designed to provide a funding stream to enable Cedar Rapids and Linn County to sell bonds to finance the flood protection system. Lawmakers are looking at allowing the local governments to retain either a percentage of a set portion of the $180 million a year of sales tax revenue Cedar Rapids-Linn County sends to the state.

Once the task force completes a bill draft, Corbett expects the Senate will take up the bill, possibly getting it out of committee before Easter.

He doesn't believe the funding plan is tied to other issues dividing the GOP-controlled House and the Senate's Democratic majority.

“I think it stands on its own,” said Corbett, the former speaker of the House. “It's not a bargaining chip for either party or either chamber.”

Leaders in the House and Senate say the plan is on their “must-do” lists. The session is scheduled to adjourn April 29.