Task force considers alternatives to Cedar Rapids plan to pay for flood protection

It's time to fish or cut bait, according to members of a legislative task force weighing how the state might help Cedar Rapids pay for flood protection.

However, some members of the panel are looking for more gear in the tackle box.

The task force, which is scheduled to meet again, is expected to see alternatives to Mayor Ron Corbett's Growth Reinvestment Initiative that would allow Cedar Rapids to capture $200 million in future sales tax growth to cover the city's cost of building flood protection along the Cedar River through the downtown area.

With the Legislature scheduled to adjourn April 29, task force members agreed they need to decide if they like the Cedar Rapids plan or want to consider other ways to assist the state's second-largest city recovery from a devastating 2008 flood.

Both the House and Senate co-chairs of the 12-member panel have expressed concerns with the plan that would allow Cedar Rapids or any other community to be eligible for up to $30 million a year for 20 years for disaster recovery.

House Co-Chairman Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, is hesitant to commit state sales tax revenues to the $375 million plan million to protect both the east and west sides of the river with a system of levees, concrete walls, and removable flood walls and pumps. He wants to explore whether flood protection could be paid for by a local option sales tax. Cedar Rapids voters approved a local options sales tax and will be asked to extend it for 20 years later this spring.

“I don't have confidence this is the final product,” Schultz said.

Senate Co-Chairman Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, also expressed reservations. Without offering details, Courtney said he will bring an alternative to the next task force meeting.

“As is,” he said referring to the Cedar Rapids plan, “it won't pass the Legislature.”

That's to be expected, said Rep. Tyler Olson, D-Cedar Rapids.

“There's no way anyone will commit to this until they see the plan,” he said. “We need to decide what's the best plan and go sell it.”

The next meeting, probably April 7, will be crucial, he said, because the task force has set a deadline for proposing alternatives.

“We need to start voting things up or down … or we could sit and talk forever,” said Sen. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock. He urged the panel to start asking for advice from a variety of experts, including bonding consultants.

“We have to decide, ‘Are we committed to a plan? To this plan?'” Olson said. “Whatever we decide, it's going to be along, tough road.”

With an eye on the legislative calendar, some task force members are encouraging the panel to forge ahead, recognizing Cedar Rapids needs a decision soon.

“Even though I'm a very parochial legislator, I agree you can make a case for this plan,” Sen. Merlin Bartz, R-Grafton, said. “I want a statewide model. We may not get it this spring, but we need to approve the model and we can spend the interim tweaking it.”

The task force is scheduled to meet at 7:15 a.m. Thursday in Room 22 of the Capitol.