Despite questions, flood bill clears hurdle

DES MOINES - Cedar Rapids residents on Wednesday pressured a legislative panel for more accountability in proposed flood mitigation legislation, but they didn't provide the specifics lawmakers sought.

A five-member House Ways and Means subcommittee heard from representatives of We Can Do Better CR, who raised various concerns with a bill that has been approved 50-0 by the Senate. The subcommittee unanimously moved the bill to the full committee.

Citing a “deficit of trust,” Cedar Rapids resident Shane Beckman asked legislators to consider enforcement mechanisms to ensure that state sales taxes would be appropriately used.

“If the city is going to petition the state for dollars, we want to make sure they go for stated purposes,” he said.

Lawmakers agreed but repeatedly asked what enforcement mechanisms the residents wanted.

Those protections already exist in the bill, Tom Cope, a lobbyist for Cedar Rapids, told House members. The bill defines what kind of flood mitigation projects are eligible; requires that cities show public support as well as private-sector investment; and includes a state board to oversee the use of the funds.

“Several aspects of this bill are designed to be very tight,” he said. “We're willing to look at suggested language ... but we've spent a lot of time working on this. There are a lot of safeguards in there.”

The program's board could allow communities to retain the growth in sales tax revenues over a period of time, or could provide aid from a state flood fund for communities without sales tax growth. It requires a 50 percent local match.

As much as $30 million a year could be diverted from general fund sales tax revenues, with as much as $15 million available for any one project.

Unlike previous state flood assistance that was delivered in lump sums, “this is a stream of money over a 10-year program,” said Cedar Rapids lobbyist Larry Murphy. The state board will have the authority “to slow down or cut off the sales tax rebate money.”

Lisa Kuzela of Cedar Rapids raised several concerns based on decisions by the City Council and state agencies on earlier projects.

“You're talking about legislation in the past. We're talking about legislation moving forward,” Cedar Rapids lobbyist Don Avenson said. “We could spend three days thinking of teeny little problems.”

If Cedar Rapids leaders want something done, they find a way to do it, Kuzela said.

The sooner the better, said Rep. Nate Willems, D-Lisbon, who noted that many residents of his district commute to jobs in Cedar Rapids.

“I'm reminded of the urgency of taking action,” he said when told that construction of a flood wall likely couldn't start until at least 2014. Flood prevention measures would protect those jobs, he said, so “It's imperative we act.”

Earlier this month, the bill was approved 21-4 by the House Appropriations Committee.