NY State Aid to Districts Training Module 8

State Aid to Districts

SWCD LawSoil & Water Conservation District Law

SWCDL §11-a State Aid to Districts added in 1976Expanded to Subsections A, B, & C in 2006 to advance local conservation projects SWCDL §11-b Ag NPS Abatement & Control added in 1994

State Aid to Districts

SWCD LawSWCD Law §11-a & 11-b

Establishes framework for funding Conservation DistrictsAvailable funding established by State Budget – Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) State Budget adopted annually

State Aid to Districts

Goals of State Aid to DistrictsGoals of State Aid

Provide Districts the opportunity to receive financial appropriations from the State’s EPF for projects and programs Use reports to gauge diverse District projects, programs, and training needsFurther technical assistance to landowners from the State

State Aid to Districts

State Funding Totals State Program Timeframe TotalState Aid - Part A - State Reimbursement

1999-2016 $39.8 M

State Aid - Part B - Conservation Project

2006-2016 $3.2 M

State Aid - Part C - Performance Measures

2006-2016 $11.3 M

Ag Nonpoint Source 1994-2016 $158 M

AEM Base 2004-2016 $18.2 MTotal $230.5 M

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

State Aid to Districts

Section 1

Section 2Reimbursement of Eligible ExpensesReimburse each District 50% of the amount expended by the District for specific items up to $60,000Goal to provide technical assistance for conservation practices

Part A – State Reimbursement

State Aid to Districts

Part A – Eligible Expenditures What expenses are eligible?

Salary & fringe benefits for District Manager & technical staffPurchase of supplies & equipment for conservation related workPurpose of supervising or providing technical assistance for the implementation of soil & water conservation practices

State Aid to Districts

Part A – Eligible Expenditures Eligible Expense Categories

(.13, .14) Management & Technician(s) (.23, .24) Motor Vehicle & Field Equipment(.412) Purchase of Maps (.413) Purchase of Flags & Stakes(.416) Miscellaneous Supplies for Use in Conservation Practices (.431) Travel/Training Expenses (.422) Cell Phone(.451, .452, .453, .454, .455, .456) Insurance (.460) Other Eligible for Reimbursement (.461) Repairs to Equipment (Field Equipment)(.463) Gas and Oil for Machinery (.464) Small Tools

State Aid to Districts

Dues Telephone – office-wide State Fair funding

support County Fair Expenses Sales Tax Office Rent Newsletter Expenses Office Equipment

Repairs Bid Returns County Audit/Audit

Expenses Magazine Subscriptions

Envirothon Expenses Bulk Mailing Permit Door Prize Funding Ag NPS Grant Expenses AEM Base Expenses Office Utilities Internet Contractual

Bookkeeping Expenses reimbursed or

used as match under a state grant

Part A – Ineligible Expenditures NOT ELIGIBLE

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

State Aid to Districts

Section 2

Section 1

Conservation Project Financial AssistanceDistricts shall be eligible, within amounts available, for up to $6,000 annually for a conservation projectGoal is to implement local conservation projects2006-2016 Districts completed 585 projects

Part B – Conservation Project

State Aid to Districts

Part B – Project Eligibility List• Conserve, restore, and enhance the soil and water

resources of the state• Assist in the implementation of agricultural best

management practices • Prevent and reduce agricultural and non-Ag NPS water

pollution • Assist in the control of floods and mitigate flood

damage• Protect and restore streams and wetlands• Protect and restore wildlife and aquatic habitat • Assist in the drainage of agricultural lands • Prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs• Control stormwater run-off, including from construction

sites• Assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and

harbors• Reduce agriculturally-generated air pollution• Assist the agricultural production of green energy • Protect open spaces • Collect and dispose of pesticides • Manage public lands• Protect and manage rural and urban forests

State Aid to Districts

Part B – Conservation ProjectConservation Project Guidance

Projects are reviewed prior to awardChanges must be pre-approvedProject must have a tangible outcome Project needs a reportable metric (measurable result, quantifiable output of work, measure of performance)

State Aid to Districts

Part B – Conservation ProjectExpenditure Guidance Part B

No motorized vehicle purchases Equipment purchases must have direct relevance & result in appreciable delivery within project yrCapital Improvements to District Property are discouraged & must be pre-approvedPass thru expenses are not eligible (dues, donations)Workshops are eligible as aligned with categoriesTraining for District staff is not eligible Envirothon expenses are not eligible

Section 2

Section 4

Section 5

State Aid to Districts

Section 3

Section 1

Performance Measures Financial Assistance Project and/or ActivityDistricts shall be eligible annually on a competitive basis, within available funding, for financial assistance for carrying out conservation projects/activitiesGoal to advance local conservation based on District performance

Part C – Performance Measures

State Aid to Districts

Part C – Performance MeasuresPerformance Measure Guidance

Competitive Eligibility based on meeting or exceeding Performance StandardsDistricts must operate in accordance with SWCC Policies to be eligible Performance Measures are mechanism for awarding grant funds for conservation project and/or activity

State Aid to Districts

Part C – Performance Measures Performance Measures 1. Extent & sufficiency of District

Board activity2. District reporting & outreach

activities 3. Ability of the District to use the

funding to leverage additional funds from local, federal, & private sources

4. Delivery of state natural resource conservation programs, which shall include the quality of service provided

State Aid to Districts

Part C – Performance MeasuresFunding Distribution for Part C

State Committee establishes percentage of funds allocated to each Performance MeasureAvailable funds are distributed equally to qualifying districts within each Performance Measure

State Aid to Districts

Part C – Project Eligibility List• Improvement of water quality • Control & prevention of soil erosion • Prevention of floodwater & sediment damages • Furthering the conservation, development, utilization,

& disposal of water• Preserve natural resources• Control & abate NPS water pollution • Assist in the control of floods • Assist in the drainage & irrigation of agricultural lands• Prevent impairment of dams & reservoirs • Assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers &

harbors• Preserve wildlife • Protect the tax base• Protect public lands • Protect & promote the health, safety, & general

welfare of the people of NYS

State Aid to Districts

Part C – Conservation ProjectExpenditure Guidance Part C

Motor vehicle purchases must be pre-approved Equipment purchases must have direct relevance & result in appreciable delivery within project yrCapital Improvements to District Property are discouraged & must be pre-approvedPass thru expenses are not eligible (dues, donations)Workshops are eligible as aligned with categoriesTraining for District staff is not eligible Envirothon expenses are not eligible

Section 3

Section 1

Section 5

State Aid to Districts

Section 4

Section 2State Funding Programs for DistrictsAgricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement & Control Grant Program (Ag NPS Grant Program)Agricultural Environmental Management Funding Program (AEM Base Funding)

District State Funding Programs

State Aid to Districts

District State Funding ProgramsAg NPS Grants

Competitive grant program exclusive to Conservation DistrictsGoal to assist farmers in preventing & reducing nonpoint source water pollutionGrants cost-share approx 75% of project for planning & implementation of BMP systems

State Aid to Districts

District State Funding ProgramsAEM Base Funding

Non-competitive funding for technical assistance exclusive to DistrictsGoal to assist farmers to participate in AEM framework

State Aid to Districts

State Aid to Districts Timeframe • Feb 15th – Submit Eligible Expenditures Report

• Mar/Apr – Reimbursement paidState Aid –

Part A• Nov 1st – Submit Conservation Project Financial

Assistance request • Dec – Approved projects are awarded

funding• Feb 15th – Conservation Project final report

submitted for previous CY

State Aid – Part B

• Feb 15th – Submit Performance Measure Application & Project Final report for previous CY

• Mar/Apr – Performance Based funds awardedState Aid –

Part C• Jan – Annual RFP released• Mar - Grant proposals due• June/July – Awards are madeAg NPS• Apr – Annual Action Plan (AAP) due • May – Contracts renewed• July – Closeout documents dueAEM Base

Section 3

Section 1

Section 4

State Aid to Districts

Section 5

Section 2Linking Reports to OpportunitiesMarketing PublicationsPart B & C Final Reports & Annual Reports are used to create marketing publicationsDirector Training ProgramPerformance Measure reports analyzed for training needs

Tools for Districts

State Aid to Districts

District Success Stories

Conservation Project Assistance Report – Part B Projects Highlights District influence & impact in each regionProjects/outcomes useful to decision-makers & publicAid in justifying additional funding for Districts

Marketing Publications

State Aid to Districts

District Accomplishments

Annual Reports highlight statewide accomplishments and impacts Showcase successful programs to local decision makers, the state, and counterparts around the stateCollaborative tool linking Districts with external audiencesSynergies & partnerships created/maintained by sharing accomplishments

Marketing Publications

State Aid to Districts

Tools for DistrictsDirector Training Program

Utilizing NASCA & NACD resources for developing Director Training Program Updating existing training modules to create uniform look & add new contentTraining Modules will be added to SWCC website and SharePoint as they are updated/created

State Aid to Districts

Tools for DistrictsTraining Modules for Directors & District Staff1. Conservation Districts in New York2. History of Conservation Districts 3. Partners in Conservation 4. District Director Responsibilities 5. Open Meeting Law (OML)6. Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)7. Effective Board Meeting8. State Aid to Districts 9. Ethics 10.Soil and Water Conservation District

Law

State Aid to Districts

Additional ResourcesResource Available Where to Find It

Soil & Water Conservation District Law SWCC Website

District Operations Manual SharePoint

Director Training Program Training Modules on SharePoint

SWCC Publications SWCC Annual ReportsNYS Consolidated Laws - SWC Law NY State Assembly