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 Program
Timeframe
Total
1999-2012
$25.5 M
2006-2012
$2.1 M
2006-2012
$4.7 M
Ag Nonpoint Source
1994-2012
$120 M
AEM Base
2004-2012
$9.8 M
State Aid - Part A
- State Reimbursement
State Aid - Part B
- Conservation Project
State Aid - Part C
- Performance Measures
Total
$162.1 M
State Aid to Districts
Section 1
Part A – State Reimbursement
Reimbursement of Eligible Expenses
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
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
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
Part A – Ineligible Expenditures
NOT ELIGIBLE
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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
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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
State Aid to Districts
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Part B – Conservation Project
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
2006-2012 Districts completed 468 projects
State Aid to Districts
Part B – Project Eligibility List
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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
State Aid to Districts
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Part C – Performance Measures
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
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
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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
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
District State Funding Programs
State Funding Programs for Districts
Agricultural Nonpoint Source
Abatement & Control Grant Program
(Ag NPS Grant Program)
Agricultural Environmental Management
Funding Program (AEM Base Funding)
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
State Aid – Part A
• Feb 15th – Submit Eligible Expenditures Report
• Mar/Apr – Reimbursement paid
State Aid – Part B
• Nov 1st – Submit Conservation Project Financial Assistance request
• Mar/Apr – Approved projects awarded funding
• Feb 15th – Conservation Project final report submitted for previous CY
State Aid – Part C
• Feb 15th – Submit Performance Measure Evaluation Summary & Project
Final report for previous CY
• Mar/Apr – Performance Based funds awarded
Ag NPS
AEM Base
• Aug/Sept – Annual RFP released
• Dec /Jan - Grant proposals due
• Apr – Annual Action Plan due
• May – Contracts renewed
State Aid to Districts
Section 1
Tools for Districts
Linking Reports to Opportunities
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
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
State Aid to Districts
Marketing Publications
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
State Aid to Districts
Marketing Publications
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
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
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Conservation Districts in New York
History of Conservation Districts
Partners in Conservation
Director Responsibility
Open Meeting Law
Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)
Effective Board Meeting
State Aid to Districts
Ethics
Soil and Water Conservation District Law
State Aid to Districts
Additional Resources
Resource Available
Where to Find It
Soil & Water Conservation District Law SWCC Website
SWCD Office Manual
Located in each SWCD office
Director Training Program
Training Modules
SWCC Publications
SWCC Annual Reports
NYS Consolidated Laws - SWC Law
NY State Assembly