FREQUENT QUESTIONS ON IOWA’S WATER & LAND LEGACY
Amendment Text
Funding Formula, Accountability & Oversight Provisions
OFFICIAL BALLOT SUMMARY LANGUAGE:
Adopts Iowa's Water and Land Legacy Amendment which creates a dedicated trust fund for the purposes of protecting and enhancing water quality and natural areas in the State including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat and conserving agricultural soils in this State.
Powerpoint Presentation
Q: Was this a tax increase?
A: No. Voting for Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Amendment was a vote to create the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. The amendment did not include a tax increase. Trust Fund revenue will come from allocating 3/8 of one percent from sales tax revenue the next time the Iowa Legislature approves a sales tax increase. This amendment simply created the trust fund to ensure Iowa’s natural resources are protected for future generations if the sales tax is increased at some point down the road.
Q: Is there a need for this additional revenue?
A: Yes. Iowa’s water quality is poor. In fact, data from the Department of Natural Resources shows that 53% of Iowa’s waters rate “poor.” In addition, while agriculture is the backbone of Iowa’s economy, Iowa loses an average of 5 tons of soil per acre each year due to erosion. Currently, Iowa ranks 47th out of 50 states in conservation spending.
Q: Would this tie the hands of the legislature?
A: This amendment to clean up our water and prevent soil erosion has been a bipartisan grassroots movement 10 years in the making. The amendment allows Iowa taxpayers to weigh in and decide how best to spend their taxpayer dollars. Creating a protected Trust Fund brings accountability to the budget process, with annual audits, that guarantees politicians are acting the way voters have intended.
Q: Will politicians be able to raid this trust fund for purposes other than protecting Iowa’s natural resources?
A: No. The trust fund is a permanent, constitutionally-protected fund dedicated to water quality, soil conservation, wetlands restoration to protect us from future flooding, enhancing parks and recreation, protecting wildlife habitat, and other specific conservation programs.
Q: Will there be strong oversight over how the funds are allocated?
A: Yes. The trust fund is accountable to Iowans through a public oversight committee, annual audits and performance reviews for the legislature. All funds will be subject to two (2) public audits on a yearly basis.
Q: Does this amendment have broad support?
A: Yes. Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Amendment has a strong, broad base of support statewide among sportspersons, environmental leaders, business leaders, farmers, recreation groups, Republicans, Democrats and Independents. 90% of Iowans say protecting water, land and recreational opportunities is critical to the state’s economic vitality. In addition, 90% of Iowa’s legislators voted to allow this amendment to be on the ballot.
The amendment passed in November 2010 with 63% of the vote - winning passage in 79 counties and all five of Iowa's congressional districts. In fact, Iowa's Water & Land Legacy amendment received 32,000 more votes than Governor Branstad.
News
Iowa Conservation Director Requests funds for Conservation - Daily Iowan
Soil Erosion Far Worse Than Reported - Huffington Post
Losing Ground: Environmental Working Group
Signs from Earth: Soil Erosion - Signs from Earth (blog)
High Prices Sow Seeds of Erosion - New York Times
Storms Thin Iowa Soil - Des Moines Register
Museum Receives State Preservation Grant - Sioux City Journal
Iowa Must Invest In State's Environmental Capital - Guest Opinion: Marian Gelb/Des Moines Register
Opposition to cut in park spending expected in Iowa Senate - Des Moines Register
A Vote for The Environment - Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier Endorsement
Vote 'YES' for Iowa's Water & Land Legacy Amendment - Ft. Dodge Messenger Endorsement
Time to act for Iowa's Water & Land Legacy Amendment - Iowa City Press-Citizen
Support of Water, and Land Legacy Amendment Critical - Decorah Newspapers
Trust Fund Would Preserve Iowa's Natural Resources - Sioux City Journal/LTE
Conserve, Protect, and Defend - Burlington Hawkeye
Water & Land Trust Fund Vote: A Historic Opportunity - Sioux City Journal
Key Senator "disappointed" in Farm Bureau's Actions - Radio Iowa
Supporters Say it Would Save Iowa's Soil, Prevent Future Flood Threats - WHO TV
Protecting Iowa's Resources - Estherville Daily News
What's On The Ballot - Waverly Democrat
Group Presses for Water Quality - The Daily Iowan
Iowans Can Vote To Preserve Iowa's Water & Land Legacy - Blog For Iowa
Ballot Issue Would Aid Conservation, Park Officials Say - Iowa City Press Citizen
Fund for Iowa's Natural Resources Goes On Ballot - Radio Iowa
Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial Endorsement - Cedar Rapids Gazette
Preserving a Legacy - Ft. Dodge Messenger/Farm News
Iowa's Water & Land Legacy (Matt O'Connor) - KWWL TV
For Iowa's Land And Water - Mason City Globe-Gazette
Water Quality Funds on Nov. Ballot - Ft. Dodge Messenger
Water & Land Legacy Amendment on November Ballot - Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
Iowa Land, Water Protection Fund on November Ballot - KMEG TV/Sioux City
Ducks Unlimited Chief Biologist Endorses Iowa's Water & Land Legacy - YouTube Video
Tour Promoting Nov. 2 Ballot Question - Denison Bulletin & Review
A Matter of Scale - Carl Pope/Huffington Post
Guest Column: Restore Wetlands, Floodplains to prevent Future Disasters - Sean McMahon/Des Moines Register
Future Flooding: Des Moines City Leaders Say Current methods "Aren't Working" - WHO TV
Flood Control Equated with Police, Fire Protection - Cedar Rapids Gazette
Iowa's Cedar River No. 5 on Endangered Rivers List - Chicago Tribune/AP
Cedar River Named One of America's "Most Endangered" - Radio Iowa
Cedar River Listed as Endangered - Des Moines Register/Perry Beeman
Conservation Fund Would Pay $150 million/year - Burlington Hawkeye
A Great Idea for paying for a Great Iowa Outdoors - Des Moines Register/Editorial