Sales tax extension wins big

This time, the third time, it wasn't even close.

I wasn't shocked that the metro block approved a 10-year local-option sales tax extension. For one thing, you'd think Cedar Rapids' plan to use the money to fix streets would have broad appeal in a city where complaints about the condition of roads are as common as patches and potholes.

But I was surprised by tonight's 62-38 margin in favor, a 6,000-plus vote victory according to unofficial results. If our election map is correct, only five metro precincts voted no, with a tie vote in one other. So it was a landslide. Not what I expected, although I hear from a lot more critics than contented citizens. So my view gets skewed.

Two previous extension measures were narrowly defeated. I don't think the political climate has suddenly swung wildly in favor of taxation since those votes. Other factors may be at play.

Maybe, after the massive, big money 2011 LOST effort, and the low-key, almost invisible 2012 campaign, tax backers finally got it just right in 2013. The message was simple and straightforward. Fix the streets. Mayor Ron Corbett took a high-profile role pushing the tax as he sought re-election. He also won big Tuesday.

Maybe putting the tax on a November election ballot made a difference, although turnout was pretty much abysmal, anyway.

It could also be (drum roll) that most people who voted think the tax is a good idea.

Cedar Rapids' streets are a mess, the mess is getting worse, and it makes little sense to keep borrowing money to fix them while paying back that debt with property taxes. And it makes more sense to have commuters and visitors who shop in the city help pay to maintain roads.

Maybe you trust city hall, and maybe you don't. But those are tough arguments to refute.

It could be that more people want streets fixed than want flood protection built. Two previous extension measures paid for flood walls and levees. But passage of the LOST extension could advance the cause of flood protection down the road by freeing up scarce city bonding capacity that might otherwise have been used to buy more asphalt.

I've heard very little complaint about how Marion has used its sales tax share, or how it plans to use the extension. Ditto for Robins, Hiawatha and Fairfax. Metro neighbors collect their own local-option taxes and get a cut of sales taxes collected in Cedar Rapids. So voters in those communities were also inclined to keep the tax.

So those are my fast, early thoughts. It's a big win for local city leaders.