The Shell Rock River Watershed District Board of Managers will consider a district-wide property tax levy in its preliminary levy at its meeting Tuesday.

The meeting is at 8:30 a.m. at Albert Lea City Council chambers.

In a letter sent to community leaders, Watershed District Board Chairman Dan DeBoer said next year will be challenging for the Watershed District because of a gap in the sales tax funding provided to the district.

“Please keep in mind that the yes vote this fall is advisory in nature,” DeBoer said. “The approval of the state Legislature is needed to extend our local option sales tax, and we are not currently in the tax bill. We are pending the city of Albert Lea citizen vote to confirm support, at which point we will be looking for their support in legislative action.”

Extension of the sales tax will come before the public in November before being approved by the Legislature in 2017.

Administrator Brett Behnke said the property tax will help for four months after the $15 million from the first sales tax is reached around September 2017, noting his concern the Legislature will approve the district’s request due to bills left unsigned from this year’s legislative session.

DeBoer said there are available funding tools for the Watershed District, such as a district-wide property tax levy, project-specific property tax levy, building reserves, filling any project gaps between sales taxes and issuing capital improvement bonds.

“On Sept. 13, our board will set a preliminary levy that includes many of these available tools,” DeBoer said. “Throughout September and the fourth quarter of 2016, our Board of Managers will be looking for feedback from the community on the best way to proceed in pursuing our mission,  and continuing our commitment to water quality in the area.”