FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 28, 2017 Contact: Tim Albrecht, ta@albrechtpr.com 136 IOWA COUNTY SUPERVISORS LINE UP TO FUND THE TRUST FUND Support for Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund Continues to Mount (DES MOINES) – Today 136 Iowa county supervisors from across the state and representing both parties announced their support for funding the Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.  The trust fund was formed in 2010 when 63% of Iowans passed a constitutional amendment creating the trust fund, however it has remained empty ever since because it requires a 3/8th cent increase in the sales tax to fund it. “Woodbury County has raised the standard on conservation departments and we can achieve more with the stability of funding that the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund provides. Whether it’s rebuilding watershed dams, providing remodeled areas for public and educational use, showcasing natural beauty, or simply coordinating volunteers, the local effort is impossible without state support. The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center that I helped support as a county supervisor today is the same facility that amazed me as a young student on elementary school field trips. Our conservation board members are committed to posterity and that’s why they plan more capital improvement projects on paper and funding allows them to actually take up each year. That’s forward-thinking, and I’d urge the Legislature to keep in mind the same.” – Matthew Ung (R), Chairman, Woodbury County Board of Supervisors There is a tax-neutral bill, H.F. 597,  that has been introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives by Rep. Bobby Kauffman that will fully fund the trust fund within three years.  The bill, known as “The WISE (Water, Infrastructure, Soil for our Economy) Solution,” works by increasing the sales tax by 1/8th of a cent for the next three years alongside a reduction in the income tax by an equal amount.  This bill is strongly supported by the Iowa’s Water & Land Legacy coalition made up of farmers, sportspeople, conservationists, business leaders, Republicans and Democrats from across Iowa. “It is time to start putting money in the trust fund so counties can begin undertaking more projects to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, restore habitat and maintain outdoor recreation opportunities. Residents in my county have repeatedly told me that these type of projects are important to them. They want to start seeing action and significant results. HF 597 offers the financial resources to help fuel increased efforts and outcomes.” – Lauris Olson (D), Story County Supervisor A partial list of supervisors  supporting the legislation is below: ALLAMAKEE         Larry Schellhammer AUDUBON         Gary VanAernam AUDUBON         Todd Nelsen BLACK HAWK     Frank Magsamen BLACK HAWK     Tom Little BREMER         Duane Hildebrandt BREMER         Tim Neil BREMER         Sue Shonka BUCHANAN         Clayton Ohrt BUCHANAN         Don Shonka BUCHANAN         Gary Gissel BUENA VISTA     Dale Arends BUENA VISTA     Don Altena BUENA VISTA     Paul Merten BUENA VISTA     Rhonda Ringgenberg BUENA VISTA     Tom Huseman BUTLER         Tom Heidenwirth CARROLL        Dean Schettler CARROLL         Jean Seidl CASS             Stephen Green CASS             Steve Baier CEDAR         Dawn Smith CERRO GORDO     Casey Callanan CERRO GORDO     Chris Watts CERRO GORDO     Tim Latham CHEROKEE         Duane Mummert CHEROKEE         Jeff Simonsen CHEROKEE         Rick Mongan CHICKASAW         Dan Carolan CHICKASAW         David Tilkes Chickasaw         Jacob Hackman CHICKASAW         Steven Geerts CHICKASAW         Timothy Zoll CLAY             Barry Anderson CLAY             Burlin Matthews CLAY             Joe Skow CLAY             Dan Skelton CLAY             Randy Swanson DALLAS         Brad Golightly DELAWARE         Peter Buschmann DICKINSON         Mardi Allen DICKINSON         Pamela Jordan DICKINSON         Tim Fairchild DUBUQUE         David Baker DUBUQUE         Jay Wickham FAYETTE         Janell Bradley