NY State Aid to Districts Training Module 8

State Aid to Districts SWCD Law Soil & Water Conservation District Law SWCDL §11-a State Aid to Districts added in 1976 Expanded 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 Law SWCD Law §11-a & 11-b Establishes framework for funding Conservation Districts Available funding established by State Budget – Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) State Budget adopted annually

State Aid to Districts Goals of State Aid to Districts Goals 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 needs Further technical assistance to landowners from the State

State Aid to Districts State Funding Totals State ProgramTimeframeTotal State Aid - Part A - State Reimbursement $25.5 M State Aid - Part B - Conservation Project $2.1 M State Aid - Part C - Performance Measures $4.7 M Ag Nonpoint Source $120 M AEM Base $9.8 M Total$162.1 M

Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 State Aid to Districts Section 1 Section 2 Reimbursement of Eligible Expenses Reimburse each District 50% of the amount expended by the District for specific items up to $60,000 Goal 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 staff Purchase of supplies & equipment for conservation related work Purpose 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  Office Utilities  Internet  Contractual Bookkeeping  Expenses reimbursed or used as in-kind 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 Assistance Districts shall be eligible, within amounts available, for up to $6,000 annually for a conservation project Goal is to implement local conservation projects Districts completed 468 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 Project Conservation Project Guidance Projects are reviewed prior to award Changes must be pre-approved Project 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 Project Expenditure Guidance Parts B & C No motorized vehicle purchases Equipment purchases must have direct relevance & result in appreciable delivery within project yr Capital Improvements to District Property are discouraged & must be pre-approved Pass thru expenses are not eligible (ex. Dues, donations, etc.) Workshops are eligible as aligned with categories 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 Activity Districts shall be eligible annually on a competitive basis, within available funding, for financial assistance for carrying out conservation projects/activities Goal to advance local conservation based on District performance Part C – Performance Measures

State Aid to Districts Part C – Performance Measures Performance Measure Guidance Competitive Eligibility based on meeting or exceeding Performance Standards Districts 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 activity 2.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 Measures Funding Distribution for Part C State Committee establishes percentage of funds allocated to each Performance Standard Available funds are distributed equally to qualifying districts within each Performance Standard

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

Section 3 Section 1 Section 5 State Aid to Districts Section 4 Section 2 State Funding Programs for Districts Agricultural 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 Programs Ag NPS Grants Competitive grant program exclusive to CDs Goal to assist farmers in preventing & reducing nonpoint source water pollution Grants cost-share approx 75% of project for planning & implementation of BMP systems

State Aid to Districts District State Funding Programs AEM Base Funding Non-competitive funding for technical assistance exclusive to Districts Goal to assist farmers to participate in AEM framework

State Aid to Districts State Aid to Districts Timeframe Feb 15 th – Submit Eligible Expenditures Report Mar/Apr – Reimbursement paid State Aid – Part A Nov 1 st – Submit Conservation Project Financial Assistance request Mar/Apr – Approved projects awarded funding Feb 15 th – Conservation Project final report submitted for previous CY State Aid – Part B Feb 15 th – Submit Performance Measure Evaluation Summary & Project Final report for previous CY Mar/Apr – Performance Based funds awarded State Aid – Part C Aug/Sept – Annual RFP released Dec /Jan - Grant proposals due Ag NPS Apr – Annual Action Plan due May – Contracts renewed AEM Base

Section 3 Section 1 Section 4 State Aid to Districts Section 5 Section 2 Linking Reports to Opportunities Marketing Publications Part B & C Final Reports & Annual Reports are used to create marketing publications Director Training Program PM Evaluation Summary 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 region Projects/outcomes useful to decision-makers & public Aid 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 state Collaborative tool linking Districts with external audiences Marketing Publications

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

State Aid to Districts Tools for Districts Training Modules for Directors & District Staff 1.Conservation Districts in New York 2.History of Conservation Districts 3.Partners in Conservation 4.Director Responsibility 5.Open Meeting Law 6.Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) 7.Effective Board Meeting 8.State Aid to Districts 9.Ethics 10.Soil and Water Conservation District Law

State Aid to Districts Additional Resources Resource Available Where to Find It Soil & Water Conservation District LawSWCC Website SWCD Office ManualLocated in each SWCD office Director Training ProgramTraining Modules SWCC PublicationsSWCC Annual Reports NYS Consolidated Laws - SWC LawNY State Assembly