CREST takes up the challenge

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Shortly after the May 3 referendum on extending the local-option sales tax failed in Cedar Rapids, we issued a challenge: “Flood protection needs a champion. Our community cannot afford to have this challenge go unanswered”

Mayor Ron Corbett, who had been the face of the city's efforts to secure state assistance and the local funding match to build a flood protection system for both sides of the river, also issued a challenge of sorts, saying a second effort would probably have to come from a grass-roots initiative.

Well, there may be a grass-roots champion in the making.

A group of local supporters who call themselves CREST, or Cedar Rapids Extended Sales Tax, has launched a petition drive to call for a new sales tax referendum. It needs 4,032 signatures to get the proposal on the ballot.

Unlike the May 3 proposal, a 20-year extension that split the proceeds among flood protection (50 percent), street repairs (40 percent) and property tax relief (10 percent), this is a 10-year extension with 100 percent devoted to flood protection. March 6 is the likely date if the petition succeeds.

While we supported the first proposal, we do think the more focused CREST plan and its shorter time span addresses the reluctance of many voters to check “yes” on a 20-year commitment.

One of CREST's organizers is Brad Hart, an attorney who publicly implored the City Council not to give up on flood protection and the city's future, nor succumb to excessively negative assaults by critics. Now he's taking up the cause, along with supporters.

Good for them. We remain convinced that permanent flood protection is vital to this city's future well-being. And we're glad to see that CREST believes there's too much at stake to abandon that goal.

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