Where Does the Money Come From?

Like most watershed districts in Minnesota, the District levies $250,000 a year in property taxes to fund administrative costs. In 2005, the Minnesota Legislature approved a half percent sales tax for the District. This special tax is acquired when consumers make purchases at businesses within Albert Lea. The money from this tax funds projects and is used as leverage to apply for grants. So far, the sales tax has been leveraged to bring in close to $26 million dollars in funds to the watershed from multiple state, federal, and local resources.