Fund the Trust

To the Editor,

     In 2006, the Iowa Legislature established a committee tasked to recommend a sustainable funding source designated to address the unmet funding needs of soil and water conservation and outdoor recreation. In 2010, the people of Iowa amended the Iowa Constitution by overwhelming voting to create the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. While 63 percent of Iowans voted in support of the Trust, it has never been funded.

     Seven years later, funding the Trust remains popular, yet still sits empty. A recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed that 56 percent of Iowans supported increasing the sales tax by three-eighths of 1-cent to pay for water quality projects and outdoor recreation. Earlier polling showed that when paired with a tax offset, support goes above 70 percent. Since the 2010 vote, shovel-ready projects with unmet funding have grown from $150 million to $682 million. Had the Trust been funded immediately following the vote, almost $1 billion would have been generated for conservation projects.

     A few weeks ago, Representative Bobby Kaufman and 12 Republicans co-sponsors introduced House File 597, commonly known as the WISE (Water, Infrastructure, Soil for our Economy) Solution. The WISE Solution phases in funding for the Trust while also offsetting base income tax brackets, benefitting all Iowans.

     The time is NOW for the Iowa Legislature to finish what they started in 2006. They need to follow the wishes of Iowans and stop kicking the can down the road. Each year increases the missed opportunities for sustainable and dedicated funding for conservation. If we are serious about protecting our soil, providing clean water, improving outdoor recreation opportunities, providing healthy options, improving “quality of life” opportunities and leaving a legacy for our kids and grandkids, we need to FUND THE TRUST!

     Please contact your legislators and ask them to FUND THE TRUST NOW during this legislative session. We don’t need to fall another year behind…

Yours truly,

Robert Shimanek

Monticello, Iowa