Fund water quality trust without messing with LOST

The Gazette reported last week the trust to support statewide water quality and outdoor recreation hasn’t been funded since it was approved by voters in 2010. I believe I’ve read an article about this subject every year over the last 12 years.

Our representatives in Des Moines seem to be saying Iowa voters shouldn’t get what they voted for. We politicians know better what Iowa citizens need, so we aren't going to fund the trust. Actually, Iowa voters don't know what they’re doing when they continue to elect representatives who go against the majority of Iowa voters.

The article mentioned an idea to eliminate all local-option sales taxes (LOST) in the state. The LOST would be replaced with an additional one-cent statewide sales tax. The state will take 3/8 out of that one cent to fund the trust. I have no idea how much more the remaining 5/8 will be reduced before it finds its way back to local communities — if it ever does.

Local communities that have voted and approved local sales tax options have a better idea of their needs than the folks under the Golden Dome.

Why don’t our representatives figure out how much they need to fund the trust and add that to the sales tax? I might have oversimplified the solution. The answer to why is because they need to be able to play games with the tax revenue.

Fund the trust. Keep your hands off local-option sales tax money.

Steven Carfae

Cedar Rapids