The Shell Rock River Watershed District brought in $13 million through the half percent local sales tax over the past 10 years. This money was then leveraged by staff to acquire $26 million in grant funding for the betterment of our waters. Things like holding ponds, cleaning up the old dump and shoreline repairs were done with sales tax and grants instead of property taxes. The sales tax contribution was essential to getting grants from state and federal agencies and created a much larger pool of money. One might view it as a 200 percent return on investment — only we as local citizens didn’t have to foot the entire sales tax contribution — visitors contributed too! Vote to continue the local option sales tax and continue the much-needed work in the watershed.

John Forman

Albert Lea