ATCP 50.32(8)(a) (a) The department shall reimburse eligible county costs for employee salaries, employee fringe benefits, and independent contractor fees per the amount allocated under s. ATCP 50.28.

ATCP 50.32(8)(b) (b) The department may reimburse eligible county employee training and support costs at 100%, subject to sub. (5) (b).

ATCP 50.32(8)(c) (c) For the purpose of determining reimbursement rates under s. 92.14, Stats.:

ATCP 50.32(8)(c)1. 1. A county may choose which employees or independent contractors are considered the county’s first, second, and subsequent staff persons. The county’s first, second, and subsequent staff persons may differ from those identified in the grant application submitted under s. ATCP 50.26 (1).

ATCP 50.32(8)(c)2. 2. The department may reimburse eligible costs for the county’s first designated staff person at 100%.

ATCP 50.32(8)(c)4. 4. Except as provided under subd. 2., the department may reimburse eligible staffing costs at the rate prescribed in s. 92.14 (5g) (a), Stats.

ATCP 50.32(8)(d) (d) A county receiving an annual staffing grant under this chapter shall maintain its annual soil and water resource management expenditures, as required by s. 92.14 (7), Stats. A county may count, as part of its contributions under this paragraph, county expenditures for employees and independent contractors who work for the county land conservation committee. A county may not count capital improvement expenditures, or the expenditure of grant revenues that the county receives from other governmental entities.

ATCP 50.32(9) (9) Records.

ATCP 50.32(9)(a) (a) A county land conservation committee shall keep records related to annual staffing grants under this section. The records shall document that the county used grant funds according to this chapter and the grant contract. The county shall retain the records for at least 3 years after the end of the grant year.

ATCP 50.32(9)(b) (b) If a county reallocates grant funds to a local government or tribe, that local government or tribe shall also keep records under par. (a).

ATCP 50.32(10) (10) Bond revenues may not be used for county staffing. Bond revenue funds may not be used for an annual staffing grant under sub. (1).

ATCP 50.32(11) (11) Redirecting staffing grants for cost-share payments to landowners. A county may redirect a portion of its annual staffing grant to fund cost-share grants to landowners under s. ATCP 50.34 if all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.32(11)(a) (a) The department approves, in writing, the total staffing grant amount that the county may redirect.

ATCP 50.32(11)(b) (b) The county uses the redirected funds in the year for which the funds are allocated.

ATCP 50.32 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075: am. (7) (a) Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016: am. (3) (b), cr. (3m), r. and recr. (5) (b), am. (7) (b), r. and recr. (7) (c) 4., am. (8) (b), (c) 2., r. (8) (c) 3., am. (8) (c) 4. Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 16-083: am. (7) (a) Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; CR 23-024: cr. (5) (am), am. (6) (c), (7) (a), r. (7) (c), am. (8) (a), (c) 1., (d) Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24; correction in (8) (c) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register May 2024 No. 821.

ATCP 50.34 ATCP 50.34 Grants for conservation practices.

ATCP 50.34(1) (1) General. The department may award an annual grant to each eligible county to provide financial assistance to landowners. The department shall award the grant to the county land conservation committee. The committee may provide financial assistance to landowners for conservation practices needed to comply with any of the following:

ATCP 50.34(1)(a) (a) Section ATCP 50.04.

ATCP 50.34(1)(b) (b) State or local regulations identified in the county’s land and water resource management plan under s. ATCP 50.12 (2) (b).

ATCP 50.34 Note Note: The committee may use funds for recording fees and other related costs allowed under this chapter, but may not award funds under this chapter to cover state or local permit fees.

ATCP 50.34(1)(c) (c) Objectives identified in the county land and water resource management plan under s. ATCP 50.12.

ATCP 50.34(1)(d) (d) Any applicable requirements or provisions in ch. 92, Stats.

ATCP 50.34(2) (2) Grant contract. The department shall make grant payments under sub. (1) according to an annual grant contract with the county. The contract shall comply with s. ATCP 50.36, and shall include all of the following:

ATCP 50.34(2)(a) (a) The total amount awarded under sub. (1).

ATCP 50.34(2)(b) (b) The subtotal amount awarded from each relevant fund source under s. ATCP 50.28 (1) (a).

ATCP 50.34(2)(c) (c) Project funding extensions under sub. (6), if any.

ATCP 50.34(2)(d) (d) Grant terms and conditions, including terms and conditions required under this section.

ATCP 50.34(3) (3) Grant payments. The department shall make grant payments under sub. (1) on a reimbursement basis. The department shall reimburse the county after the county certifies that the conservation practice has been properly installed and paid for and contract terms are met. To obtain reimbursement, a county land conservation committee shall do all of the following that apply using forms provided by the department:

ATCP 50.34(3)(a) (a) File with the department a copy of the county’s contract with the landowner and the supporting documentation specified in department forms to be submitted to obtain reimbursement. Cost-share contracts shall comply with s. ATCP 50.40 (8) and (9).