Metro cities dial back some plans in wake of option vote

Voters' narrow rejection of the proposed sales tax extension disappointed one metro-area mayor, while Marion residents will pay more of the costs of the city's new police station.

“I'm very surprised it's this tight,” said Hiawatha Mayor Tom Theis. “I'd certainly hoped it would pass. When it's that close, it's disappointing.”

“I expected it to be close,” said Marion Mayor Paul Rehn. “I didn't really expect it to be that close.”

The two cities, along with Cedar Rapids, Fairfax, and Robins, comprise the metro voting bloc, governed by the cities' aggregate results.

So Marion won't tap an estimated $4.3 million a year in sales tax revenue, and Hiawatha won't receive its annual cut of just under $870,000. The tax would have meant an estimated $368,000 a year for Robins, $253,000 for Fairfax.

“There's projects we will still have to do that this funding won't be available to us now,” said Rehn. “That funding will have to go against the propery tax.”

Marion's ballot called for using 30 percent of its sales-tax revenue on property tax relief, with the balance funding construction or improvements to city buildings. At the top of the list: a new police headquarters.

“The police station we'll do first, because it's in the most dire need,” said Rehn. “We just won't be able to pay it off with proceeds from the option tax.”

Supporters also hoped to support an expansion of the city's library and development of a fitness center.

“There's no question we're going to have to do something with the library, but it's not an immediate thing,” said Rehn. As for the fitness center, “the study will go on to see where we are and if it's feasible, but that being a multi-agency project might be a different funding stream.”

Hiawatha officials had hoped to use their share of the tax revenue to fund $750,000 a year in street improvements.

“Everything will just be put on hold,” said Theis. “I am disappointed, because I think it was (also) a good thing for the city of Cedar Rapids.”