On Wednesday, the Cedar River Watershed District’s Board of Managers approved 2012’s maximum tax levy at $225,000, which will be the same levy it approved for 2011.

This amount now only can be reduced by the CRWD board in December when it sets its final 2012 levy amount. Leaders with the CRWD proposed to use an additional $30,000 from the watershed district’s project fund balance. CRWD officials have been setting aside seed money for future projects once the district had rules in place, which were approved by the board last month and will be effective Dec. 1, 2011. All watershed districts are required by state law to implement rules to accomplish their purpose.

Included in the proposed 2012 budget is $90,000 for CRWD projects; $75,000 for personnel; $35,000 for engineering/technical services; $21,400 for administrative expenses; $16,004

for water monitoring; $9,500 for public education/outreach; and $8,096 for training/travel expenses.

CRWD projects are focused on the district’s two main goals of reducing flooding and improving water quality within the Cedar River Watershed. Copies of the final rules are available at the Mower County Soil & Water Conservation District office in Austin and online at the CRWD’s website — www.cedarriverwd.org.