Iowa’s legacy depends on clean water, productive agricultural soils and thriving wildlife habitat so all Iowans can enjoy the splendor of our state.
The Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, created by an overwhelming majority of Iowa voters in 2010, is a permanent and constitutionally protected funding source to ensure these natural spaces are preserved for generations to come.
Now is the time to fund the Trust. It’s our responsibility. It’s our time. It’s our legacy.
In 2010, 63% of Iowans voted for a constitutional amendment to create the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, a permanent and protected funding source dedicated to clean water, productive agricultural soils and thriving wildlife habitat. Eight years later, the Trust Fund sits empty because it requires a state sales tax increase of 3/8ths of a cent for funding. Since 2010, support for funding the Trust has only grown. Recent polling shows that 69% of Iowa voters now support raising the state sales tax 3/8ths of a cent to fund the Trust.
Given our enormous challenges related to water quality and the clear benefits tied to soil conservation and improving our wildlife habitat, Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy supports raising the sales tax to fund the Trust and maintaining the formula supported by an overwhelming majority of Iowa voters.
We are represented by a broad-based coalition ranging from conservationists and sportspersons to farmers and business leaders who all believe cleaning our water, protecting our soil and enhancing our habitat will strengthen our economy, communities and improve our quality of life.
We urge Iowa’s political leaders to include a sales tax increase of at least 3/8ths of a cent in any legislative solution aimed at addressing water quality and conservation moving forward.
