The city of Cedar Rapids has traditionally struggled to generate funding for flood control projects from local sources. As flooding increases and federal support decreases, the political calculus for flood control infrastructure has changed.
"Cedar Rapids officials are proposing a 10-year bonding plan that could require yearly property tax increases to pay for a $550 million flood control system…to protect the east and west banks of the Cedar River," reports B.A. Morelli.
The local property tax would cover half the price of the plan, with the rest coming from funds already promised by state and federal governments. Local officials cited in the article report growing public support for the bond and new flood control infrastructure. Morelli also reports that flooding is occurring more frequently in the region, and as recently as this weekend.
Read the full story: Cedar Rapids proposes tax increases with 10-year plan to pay for flood control
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