Iowa tax for natural resources draws support

DES MOINES - Dozens of advocates packed an Iowa Capitol committee room Monday to urge state legislators to pass a three-eighths-of-a-cent sales tax for natural resources and conservation projects.

Representatives of hunting, fishing and conservation groups called on legislators to activate the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, which was created in 2010 by a public vote but has not been funded.

Revenue from the new sales tax would go toward programs helping soil and water quality, fish and wildlife, and parks and trails.

The tax would generate roughly $150 million annually, according to the Iowa's Water and Land Legacy advocacy group.

'If we had funded that trust not long after it passed, we'd already have $600 million out there on the ground. Those are opportunities probably lost,” Storm Lake Mayor Jon Kruse said. 'The sooner we can fund the trust, the sooner we can make this better for all Iowans.”

Supporters of the trust fund say it would give farmers an incentive to use more land for conservation, help improve water quality, and retain young professionals who seek recreational activities.

Those who spoke at Monday's meeting support funding the trust fund.

A representative of Iowans for Tax Relief said the group is opposed to the tax.

'We are against raising taxes again on hard-working Iowans,” Iowans for Tax Relief's Ernie Adkison said, referring to the 10-cents-per-gallon increase in the state gas tax that took effect in March.

Ken Snyder, who farms near Ralston, said the trust fund could help put more land into conservation by motivating farmers who must compete with corn and soybean crop prices.

'What we need to do is have soil rental rates in those (conservation) programs competitive with corn and beans,” Snyder said. 'There would be more incentives there to make it much easier for me to talk my neighbors into doing (conservation) practices that will protect the water that comes to Des Moines and all of Iowa.”

Chris Lovell, 22, of Clear Lake, said when young people decide where to put down roots, recreation is a key factor.

'This place (Iowa) is a gold mine for outdoor recreation,” he said. 'The bottom line for me is the outdoors. It's just a part of my soul. And it's a part of a lot of other people's souls, too, people my age. ... We have to have things that are attractive for people to come back.”

Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, supports instituting the sales tax to fund the trust fund.

'I'm very encouraged by the diversity of comments that were made and the various groups that were speaking in favor of the bill,” he said. 'This can happen. I've seen other unexpected developments occur in the final days of the session. This could happen and in my mind would be the most significant legislation passed this session.”

Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said he believes the trust fund could become a signature accomplishment of the 2015 legislative session.

'I think this legislative session needs a legacy issue, and I think this is the legacy issue. I think legislators need something to get excited about to get us out of here,” Hogg said. 'This legislative session, without something like this, is going to stack up as a pile of dung, in the words of Tom Harkin. I think we need something that really puts us out on a high note.”