Campaign for conservation bond raises $72,000

CEDAR RAPIDS - Supports of issuing up to $40 million in bonds for land and water quality projects have raised about $72,000 for a campaign to persuade voters to approve the ballot measure.

Voters will weigh in Nov. 8 on the proposed 20-year Linn County Water and Land Legacy bond, which requires 60 percent voter approval to pass.

'Anybody who has any interest in conservation or trails or outdoor living is in full support,” Tom Peffer, chairman of Linn County Water and Land Legacy Action, said Monday. 'The vast majority of people that I've approached have been supportive, some more financially than others, but I've been very pleased with the support and from a range of people.”

Campaign finance reports filed Oct. 14 show some of the biggest donations came from organizations, including:

l $14,500 from Des Moines-based Citizens for a Healthy Iowa, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable public health, agricultural, economic development and environmental policy.

l $10,000 from Linn County Trails Association

l $3,000 from the Linn County chapter of Pheasants Forever Inc.

l $2,000 from Trees Forever

In addition, all five members of the Linn County Conservation Board and several within the county conservation department, who proposed the bond, donated a collective $15,000.

'Certainly this is something I'm very passionate about and I believe in, so that's why I gave in, so I'm not surprised others who gave so much time to the board have given as well,” said Hillary Hughes, treasurer of the pro-bond group.

Other notable donations include $2,000 from Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids and $2,500 from Chuck and Mary Ann Peters. He is president and chief executive officer of The Gazette Company.

The report does not list specific expenditures, but Peffer and Hughes said funds have been spent on publications, mailers, yard signs and other educational efforts.

If approved, the bond issue would tax the average county resident about $27 more a year.

County conservation staff say money raised from the bond sales could leverage more revenue from federal and state grants.

Ballot language says funds raised by the bond sale would be used to protect water sources, acquire land for natural floodwater storage and improve water quality through parks, trails and natural area projects.

The Conservation Board and the Linn County Board of Supervisors have passed resolutions establishing percentages they say would outline how the money would be spent - 55 percent for water quality and land protection, 30 percent for parks and 15 percent for trails.