Good State News
--but it's only the beginning

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Policy makers made a big leap toward the conservation coalition's goal of 2 Cents for Conservation. In one year, conservation spending has been resorted from less than 1% of state tax dollars to 1.35% of appropriable revenues. Iowa needs to invest two cents of the state tax dollar in conservation to be an attractive place to live, work and play.

Thanks to an outcry from conservationists, the Iowa General Assembly restored most of the funding cuts from the last two years. They increased FY04 conservation spending by $17.5 million-good news indeed! Your state legislators and Governor Vilsack deserve thanks for rethinking many conservation cuts of the past few years-and for funding programs like these in FY04: Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) received $11 million, money that supports parks, recreation areas and nature preserves; environmental education; cultural preservation; and operating grants to county conservation boards.

Soil and water conservation funds were reactivitated for watershed projects, conservation district incentives, ag drainage well closures, demonstration projects and regional conservation projects.

Brownfield redevelopment grants to cities were reestablished with a budget of $500,000.

Soil conservation cost-sharing was increased by $2 million-but remains $2 million less than two years ago.

State park improvements received substantial increases.

The Environment First Fund received a $16.5 million supplemental appropriation for this year to cover a shortfall in casino taxes.

While the new budget has a 40% funding increase for next fiscal year, it is just a good start in the right direction. Much work remains to be done:

Over $100 million was previously taken from restricted environmental fees and taxes like the Underground Storage Tank Fund, the Groundwater Protection Fund and other accounts. Though the practice of raiding environmental funds was discontinued this legislative session, policy makers didn't make restitution for past raids.

At least 188 water bodies are impaired for drinking water or recreation uses.

Over 7 million acres of Iowa farmland still need soil conservation practices to sustain agricultural production.

For the past three years, Iowa has funded no new state recreation trail grants. Iowa is slow to save and utilize the recreation lands and natural areas that can make Iowa a special place to live and play.

There is no comprehensive program to protect Iowans from toxic air pollutants. Our leaders shortchange Iowans, both living and future generations, when they claim our state government cannot afford to do more for conservation. Clean water, fresh air, productive soils and outdoor fun are not luxuries; they are necessities for Iowa's quality of life and economic development.

Thanks to the many I-CALL volunteers who contacted policy makers on conservation issues--you made a big difference! To join I-CALL, visit www.iowacall.org or call 515-309-3152.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.