Vote no to the proposed constitutional amendment on clean water and arts. State of Minnesota would add three-eighths percent sales tax to the 6.5 percent we are currently paying. City of Albert Lea has a 7 percent sales tax, including half-cent sales tax approved two years ago.

City of Albert Lea requested (two years ago) an additional half-cent sales tax to pay for clean lakes. Total sales tax 7 percent. Passed. If this amendment passed, city of Albert Lea would have a sales tax of 7 3/8 percent. Albert Lea would have to rescind the half-cent sales tax to make the city competitive.

As far as the arts, we have a benefactor, Marion Ross. She has a center named after her: “Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.” I assume she would come to the rescue, if the center was in financial trouble.

Robert Mares

Albert Lea