Property taxes collected by the Cedar River Watershed District will remain the same next year.

On Wednesday, the Cedar River Watershed District’s board of managers approved the district’s 2012 tax levy at $225,000 — the same levy it previously set for 2011. That amount was the proposed maximum levy set by the watershed board this summer. Cedar River Watershed District managers set the levy while approving the budget for 2012 during its monthly meeting.

Overall, the watershed district will have a $337,000 budget for 2012, which includes grant money revenue for projects.

Cedar River Watershed District officials have been setting aside “seed money” for future projects once the district had rules in place. Those rules became effective Dec. 1.

All watershed districts are required by state law to implement rules to accomplish their purposes. Projects by the watershed district are focused on the district’s two main goals of reducing flooding and improving water quality within the watershed.

The Cedar River Watershed District was formed in 2007 following frequent floods. The district covers 278,540 acres in western Mower and eastern Freeborn counties and parts of southern Dodge and Steele counties.