Do voters want trust fund filled?

As a state senator, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, voted to put the Iowa Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund on the ballot in 2010.

It passed with support from 63 percent of voters. But Reynolds contends those voters didn't really want the Legislature to approve a sales tax increase necessary to fill the fund.

'What they said, the question was, in the event that there would be a sales tax increase, we support three-eighths of that going toward water quality and trails and recreation. So that's what we voted on,” Reynolds told Gazette reporters and editors on Friday. She'll become governor when Gov. Terry Branstad departs for China to become U.S. ambassador.

'But asking them if you're in favor of increasing the sales tax is a different question,” Reynolds said.

So under Reynolds' scenario, Iowans voted overwhelmingly to create a constitutional trust fund to provide dollars for water quality, natural resource protection, parks, wildlife habitat and other environmental initiatives. But they were indifferent, or perhaps even opposed, to providing the additional sales tax revenue to make it happen. The created an empty box, just in case the sales tax was ever raised. Someday. Or maybe never. And that's it.

I've heard this before. Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey subscribes to this same version of electoral history, as do more than a few lawmakers. Iowans wanted a fund, but not the tax to fill it.

In reality, politicians such as Reynolds and Northey simply are unwilling to take the political risk of supporting a sales tax increase to fill the trust fund.

'I can tell you there's no appetite to raise the sales tax. It's just not there, so why even go down [that road]? It's just not there,” Reynolds said.

In November, 74 percent of Linn County residents voted to raise their property taxes for water quality and recreation. So there is appetite away from the golden dome. But I've heard Reynolds' argument many times from Democrats and Republicans over the last six-plus years.

Funny things is, leadership can bring change. A new governor, determined to lead, could alter the tide.

But at this point, Reynolds is sticking with Branstad's line on water quality. A bill approved in the House last year pumping gambling and metered water taxes into an array of water quality initiatives on the farm and in town is the 'starting point.”

The bill has its good points. But it attacks a problem that will take decades to address with funding good only through 2029. Its promised bucks are slow to ramp up to meaningful levels. Unlike the constitutional trust fund, it's not protected from changing legislative whims. It's fine as a starting point, but I fear it may be a destination.

The good news is when Reynolds talks about water quality, she explains the need for accountability, best-practices, data collection and watershed-based approaches.

'You can't put Band-Aids on it,” said Reynolds, who says we need a dedicated, sufficient source of revenue.

Iowa voters already spoke to that need. All we need now are some leaders willing to listen.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com