New Poll Finds 7 in 10 Iowa Voters Support Sales Tax Increase to Protect Water Quality and Land 

In 2010, 63% of Iowa voters approved a constitutional amendment to create the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, establishing a permanent, dedicated revenue stream for water quality, soil conservation, habitat protection, and local park enhancements. However, 16 years later, the Trust remains empty because the necessary 3/8ths-of-a-cent sales tax increase required to activate it has yet to be implemented. 

Support to fund the Trust has only continued to grow, and new data confirms that the Trust Fund is more relevant than ever before.  

Nearly seven in ten Iowa voters (69%) support raising the state sales tax by three-eighths of a cent to fund conservation, clean water, and land protection efforts across Iowa.  

The steady support comes as public concern over Iowa’s water safety reaches unprecedented levels. Alarm over poor water quality has roughly doubled since 2021: 

• Escalating Concern: 66% of voters now view poor water quality as an extremely or very serious problem, up sharply from 32% in 2021 
• Failing Grades for Rivers: 40% of voters give Iowa’s rivers and streams a grade of "D" or "F" (up from 23% in 2021), with 19% giving an outright failing grade of "F" 
• Top Legislative Priority: Water quality has jumped to the third-highest issue for the Iowa Legislature, ranking just behind inflation and public education 

“It would be an understatement to say the quality of our shared water has Iowans’ attention,” says Joe McGovern, President of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. “Many people are feeling hopeless and wondering when we will finally do something at a scale that begins to solve the problem.” 

Funding the Trust Fund would provide a permanent and accountable funding mechanism for water quality and other quality of life initiatives that strengthen our communities and economy, including conservation of agricultural soils, improvement of existing natural areas and fish and wildlife habitat protection. 

Polling also shows that state lawmakers who support funding the trust fund stand to gain strong approval from their constituents, with legislators who vote to fund the Trust Fund seeing a +49 point boost in voter favorability as well as a +37 point boost to gubernatorial candidates.  

"It’s exciting to see the building momentum,” says Anna Gray, INHF Public Policy Director. “Iowans have been asking for this permanent funding source to support Iowa’s natural resources for too long. Now is the time for a clear, direct message to elected officials and candidates. The Trust Fund impacts many aspects of our lives and communities; share what is most important to you for a stronger, more memorable message.” 

Find more resources for how to be an effective advocate at inhf.org/natures-advocate.  

To download an executive summary and the polling results, visit www.iowaswaterandlandlegacy.org/polling.