Here’s a plan to protect both sides of the river

Here's a both-sides-of-the-river, 20-year-flood protection plan people want - as requested by The Gazette.

People want Cedar Rapids businesses and public agencies to pay $9.5 million annually for flood protection, plus

$8.3 million for annual street repair and residential property tax reduction.

People want business property taxes raised

17 percent, the same percentage businesses tried to raise sales taxes people would have to pay! This would raise $8.9 million per year.

The $0.6 million remainder of the $9.5 million flood protection needed annually, plus $8.3 million for street repair and residential property tax reduction, is obtained by reallocating 1 percent from the $888 million public agency budgets, such as 2010 spending by Cedar Rapids City ($338,062,216), Linn County ($183,683,000), Kirkwood Community College ($128,699,507), Grant Wood AEA ($57,530,586), and the Cedar Rapids school district ($179,877,811). No one can factually state 1 percent spent ($8.9 million) was not wasted.

Therefore, $8.9 million of the waste would be reallocated for flood protection, street repair and residential property tax reduction - willingly. If existing agency officials won't reallocate willingly, new officials will be elected who will. The amounts from each agency and methods of reallocation are posted on http://iowalive.net/.

People also would pay for this plan because they pay for a large part of business profits, the budgets mentioned above - and $111 million property taxes.

Put this plan on the ballot! Elect a new, trustworthy mayor and council to manage it. Let people vote on this plan they want. No $500,000 advertising needed.

Dick Fredericks

Palo