Protection plan protects state

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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It's time for Statehouse leaders to step up for flood protection in Cedar Rapids.

Clearly, the state has a compelling interest in shielding its second-largest city and job generator from catastrophic flooding. Another Cedar River deluge akin to 2008 aimed at the heart of Cedar Rapids would bring with it costly economic, social and fiscal consequences for the state. We know this because response, recovery and rebuilding efforts carried a large price tag for the state after the last flood. That recovery continues today, with generous state assistance.

Avoiding a repeat is in the best interest of every Iowa taxpayer. That's why we urge state lawmakers to support Cedar Rapids' Growth Reinvestment Initiative, which would allow the city to keep a portion of state sales taxes collected in Linn County to help pay for a comprehensive system of flood walls, removable flood walls, earthen levees and pumps. The protection plan has an estimated cost of $375 million. The city hopes to use $200 million in state sales taxes to help cover the cost.

It's reasonable, in our view, to argue that the state should play a significant financial role at this important moment.

The flood was a rare, destructive event that ranks among the nation's worst disasters. And the need for flood protection in its wake is clear. But the cost of a system that protects both banks of the Cedar is too much for local residents to bear. It's a moment made for cooperation among the state, local leaders and the federal government.

The Growth Investment Initiative would not raise state taxes. Instead, it would use an existing revenue source. And it's appropriate, we believe, to tap a source of revenue so closely tied to economic activity.

Flood protection is a key component in the city's ability to attract investment and jobs. With protection, existing businesses will gain the confidence to stay and expand while new investors will see the city as a more attractive location.

Without it, Cedar Rapids faces serious risk of a drop or, at best, slow growth in business activity, and less investment. Bottom line - state leaders can either allow revenue to be used for protection or watch tax revenues drop without it. Action and inaction carry costs.

A bipartisan working group of lawmakers from both the House and Senate have been exploring the GRI proposal for several weeks. We appreciate that legislators are still working out details and analyzing different approaches. It's a complicated issue and we understand that legislators want to get it right. It's not unusual for difficult issues in the final weeks of the session to be punted into summer study committees.

But we urge lawmakers to resist the temptation to study further rather than act now. It's been nearly three years since the flood. Any sense of urgency that once pushed lawmakers to come to our aid has largely faded. Further delay would be detrimental, especially considering that building the flood protection system would take at least two to three years. Time is running out.

And timing is of the essence.

Voters in Cedar Rapids go to the polls May 3 to decide on a 20-year local sales tax extension that would provide flood protection dollars to match state resources. Also, Congress is expected to act this year on a water resources bill that could provide federal dollars for Cedar Rapids flood protection. Pinning down the state's funding role in the midst of these other crucial decisions is critical.

Next week promises to be an important one for the GRI's prospects. The working group is expected to settle on proposed legislation. A large Cedar Rapids contingent plans to lobby lawmakers on Wednesday.

A big job remains: convincing a majority of House and Senate members to support the bill. It won't be easy, but we're confident that even in the chaotic closing days of the session, lawmakers will step up to help Cedar Rapids.

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