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).

ATCP 50.34(3)(b) (b) Certify the amount of reimbursement due.

ATCP 50.34(3)(c) (c) Certify, based on documentation possessed by the county, that all applicable conditions in ss. ATCP 50.40 (10) to (12) and (14) and 50.41 are met.

ATCP 50.34(3)(d) (d) File all reimbursement requests and required documentation such as cost-share contracts or other documents to show payment conditions are met by February 15 of the year following the grant year.

ATCP 50.34(4) (4) Use of bond revenues.

ATCP 50.34(4)(a) (a) Bond revenue funds awarded under sub. (1) may be used for the following purposes, subject to par. (b) and the grant contract:

ATCP 50.34(4)(a)1. 1. To finance conservation practices identified in subch. VIII, except that bond revenue funds may not be used to finance practices identified in s. ATCP 50.67, 50.68, 50.78, 50.79, 50.82, or 50.89.

ATCP 50.34(4)(a)2. 2. To finance engineering services provided in connection with a conservation practice for which bond revenues may be used under subd. 1.

ATCP 50.34(4)(b) (b) The department may not use bond revenue funds to reimburse a county for services provided by county employees, or by independent contractors working for the county.

ATCP 50.34(5) (5) Unspent funds. The department may not use grant funds awarded to a county under sub. (1) to reimburse the county for costs that the county incurs after December 31 of the grant year, or pays after January 31 of the following year. Unspent funds remain with the department, for distribution under a future year’s allocation plan.

ATCP 50.34(5m) (5m) Inter-county transfers. The department may approve an agreement between counties to transfer uncommitted grant funds if all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.34(5m)(a) (a) The grant funds subject to the transfer were not previously extended by the transferring county.

ATCP 50.34(5m)(b) (b) The county transferring the grant funds certifies to the department that it has an uncommitted portion of its allocation equal to or greater than the transfer amount, and has approval of its land conservation committee to make these funds available for transfer.