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3. Consideration of VLAWMO petition on a smaller boundary area (omitting Lino Lakes) and then continuing in it present course. BWSR does not approve changes to WMO boundaries. We are limited to a review and comment role. BWSR does set watershed district boundaries, however. Some of the confusion in this answer may arise from the mistaken assumption that the term "watershed district" includes watershed management organizations. It does not. We describe this scenario as being "possible" on purpose. We believe the term "probable" is overstating the likelihood that our 17- member board would automatically vote to annex the Lino Lakes area into the Rice Creek Watershed District, for example. The Board has historically been cautious about having a political border deviate significantly from the hydrologic border in order to maintain the nexus between the use of ad- valorem financing and water contributions. 4. How could the WMO obtain direct levy authority? It is clear that the legislative intent was for MS 103B WMOs to have direct levy authority. Subsequent decisions to bar use of the authority rest upon the absence of such entities being explicitly listed as a special taxing district in MS 275.066. Several WMOs have had special legislation passed in order to be listed in Chapter 275. 5. Would it be necessary for the JPA to explicitly grant the WMO the power to • utilize direct levy authority? The current JPA for the watershed does not include any clause that would lead us to believe that the WMO Commissioners would have the power to directly levy for administrative purposes without an amendment to the JPA. The current JPA for the VLAWMO does address the power for the WMO to order projects contained in its approved watershed plan and have them paid for either by the members or through the appropriate county. Interpreted narrowly, we would not construe this power to be indicative of the direct levy authority that a WMO board wants for administrative purposes. 6. Are the JPA members required to provide their proportional allocation of the budget that the city or township representatives to the WMO approve? Yes, once the members have had a chance to comment on the proposed budget and a majority of the Commissioners approve a final budget. Section IV, subd. 8 addresses administrative funds. Section 4, subdivisions 4B and 10 address payment for improvement items (i.e. non administrative) initiated pursuant to the approved watershed plan. Another subdivision stipulates that the plan will be complied with by the members unless arbitration is petitioned for. •