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Action Please By:
June 10, 2009

NACWA’s Board of Directors met on May 6, 2009 and acted to adopt preliminary budgets for both the General Fund and Targeted Action Fund (TAF) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. This Member Update describes key aspects of the budgets and provides a report to the membership on the Association’s successful Critical Issues Action Initiative. Member comments on the budgets are invited and should be provided by June 10, 2009.

FY 2010 Preliminary Budgets Adopted

This Member Update presents the Association’s preliminary FY 2010 General Fund Budget (Attachment A). Ever mindful of the current economic climate, the budget development process included a thorough review of revenues and expenditures, as well as an assessment of NACWA’s ability to maintain and enhance its delivery of essential services to its members. The preliminary FY 2010 General Fund budget reflects $3.6 million in revenues, $3.7 million in expenses and $100,000 in transfers from other funds resulting in a break-even net income after transfers for FY 2010. It assumes no increase in dues for all membership categories (Public Member Agencies, Public Affiliates, Legal Affiliates, Corporate Affiliates and Supporting Affiliates). For your information and planning purposes, this Member Update also provides the current NACWA dues schedule, which will remain unchanged for FY 2010 (Attachment B).

Also presented for your review is the preliminary FY 2010 Targeted Action Fund (TAF) Budget (Attachment C) which supports engagement in both ongoing and evolving legislative, regulatory and judicial issues. Now, well into its second decade, the TAF strengthens the Association’s capability to achieve its short and long-term strategic objectives. Approximately 15% of FY 2010 dues revenue will support the TAF in the coming year. The preliminary FY 2010 TAF budget shows revenues of $500,000 and proposed expenses of $429,000; however, the expense budget will increase as new projects are identified and funding is approved. We anticipate that NACWA’s TAF will continue to consistently prove its value through protecting Member Agency interests and providing both cost savings and avoided costs in the coming year. In addition to the preliminary Targeted Action Fund Budget for FY 2010, an analysis of continuing TAF projects for FY 2010 (Attachment D) and an overview and status report of TAF projects currently underway (Attachment E) are included for your review.

Critical Issues Action Initiative Protects Member Interests – Both Fiscal & Environmental

This past year (FY 2009), the TAF budget was bolstered by a Board-endorsed, and member-supported Critical Issues Action Initiative focusing on positioning the Association and its members for an active and aggressive public policy debate on issues such as nutrients, climate change, pharmaceuticals, watershed management, infrastructure sustainability and security. Even in these tough economic time, voluntary Member contributions in support of this initiative totaled nearly $180,000. These funds, were coupled with allocated TAF funding and legal fees reimbursed to NACWA as part of the settlement of the Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA (the BEACH Act case) to provide a ‘war chest’ of $350,000 which has been utilized to generate the data and provide the expertise and analysis needed to ensure clean water agency interests are, and will continue to be, effectively represented on critical issues. Attachment F of this Member Update provides an overview of the projects undertaken and the benefits realized through the Critical Issues Action Initiative.

As a result of the Initiative, NACWA has developed a suite of resources to support the Association in its response to legislative, regulatory and legal activities that are challenging traditional ways of doing business and placing increasing pressures on clean water utilities across the country. Throughout FY 2010, the Association antici-pates that public policy will continue to actively and aggressively move forward. Because of the CIAI, NACWA is well-prepared to advocate for policies that improve the environment, limit financial and operational impacts on its members, and effectively and articulately fashion the future of clean water in this country. The work on, and benefits of, many CIAI projects will carry over into FY 2010, but no additional funding will be sought from Association Members.

Board Strives to Ensure Quality Service, Meet Challenges through FY 2010 Budgets

NACWA plans an active and diverse agenda of actions and initiatives for FY 2009 in legislative, regulatory and judicial advocacy, ensuring that valid science is the foundation of environmental policy, enhancing utility management, expanding strategic partnerships and applying effective membership development and retention strategies. Challenging economic times call upon NACWA to be especially focused on the delivery of exceptional service and the National Office staff is keenly aware of the impact the economic downturn has had on the Association’s Member Agencies. Energies and efforts are being focused on raising the bar on the quality of our analysis of evolving and emerging issues and our outreach to our members. With enhancing our service to our members as the cornerstone, NACWA’s management team will be exceedingly attentive to ensuring sustainable support to both the Association’s General Fund and Targeted Action Fund through budgeting practices and oversight.

Member Comment Invited on FY 2010 Budgets

Consistent with NACWA’s budget cycle, the Board of Directors encourages all members to review the FY 2010 preliminary budgets for both the General Fund and the Targeted Action Fund. Please direct any comments you may have to Jeff Theerman, NACWA Treasurer and Chair of the Association’s Finance Committee (314/768-6245 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and NACWA’s Executive Director, Ken Kirk (202/833-4653 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Please provide your comments and recommendations prior to Wednesday, June 10, 2009. All comments received will be carefully considered and final budgets will be adopted when NACWA’s Board of Directors meets on July 15, 2009.

As the Association approaches its fifth decade of advocacy and service, initiatives throughout the year will support the objective of maintaining NACWA’s strategic position as the driving force in national clean water policy. As always, our primary focus is on advocacy on behalf of our member’s interests. We look forward to sharing additional information on our advocacy work, and associated initiatives, in through the upcoming NACWA Year in Review.

This past year we have accomplished many things. Playing a pivotal role in these accomplishments were NACWA’s leadership and members, whose firm decisions and substantial participation lent unquestioned credibility to the Association’s positions and led to increased attention to its policy goals. Many thanks for your continuing participation and support.

Attachments:

• Attachment A - Preliminary FY 2010 General Fund Budget
• Attachment B - FY 2010 Membership Dues 
• Attachment C - Preliminary FY 2010 Targeted Action Fund Budget
• Attachment D - Targeted Action Fund FY 2010 Continuing Project Analysis
• Attachment E - Targeted Action Fund Project Overview & Status Report
• Attachment F - Critical Issues Action Initiative Update