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June 4, 2012

NACWA’s Board of Directors met in Washington, DC in late April and acted to approve a preliminary FY 2013 General Fund Budget.  Ever mindful of the current economic climate, the FY 2013 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 2013 General Fund budget reflects $4.28 million in revenues, $4.37 million in expenses and $95,500 in transfers from other funds resulting in a break-even net income after transfers for FY 2013 (please see Attachment A – FY 2013 General Fund Budget ).  It calls for a 3% increase in dues for all membership categories, with public agency increases ranging from $40/year for our smallest members to $1,660/year for our largest utilities (please see Attachment B – FY 2013 Membership Dues ).  NACWA’s FY 2013 preliminary budget also includes the allocation of 300,000 in dues to support the Targeted Action Fund (TAF), which is anticipated to be bolstered by voluntary contributions from the membership (please see page 2 for additional information about TAF voluntary contributions).

Challenging economic times have called upon NACWA to be especially focused on the delivery of exceptional service.  Our energies and efforts have been focused on raising the bar on the quality of our advocacy on, and analysis of, evolving and emerging issues.  We have been gratified that, to date, not only did all but one public Member Agencies choose to renew their membership this year – the Association continues to grow, with an additional 11 public utilities joining NACWA as new members thus far in FY 2012, along with nine Corporate Affiliates, five Legal Affiliates, and two Supporting Affiliates.  NACWA is clearly a dynamic and growing organization.

This Member Update describes key aspects of the budget and our plans for the new 2013 fiscal year (October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013).  Member comments are invited by June 4, 2012.

Active & Diverse Advocacy Agenda Anticipated in FY 2013

NACWA anticipates a challenging year ahead requiring an active and diverse advocacy agenda for FY 2013 in the legislative, regulatory and legal arenas.  We will maintain an aggressive focus on evolving issues that are critical to the membership, among them the pursuit of both regulatory prioritization and broader changes in clean water investment strategies – all the while underscoring the importance of evaluating investments on a watershed basis to maximize benefits for each dollar spent.  NACWA will leverage the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Integrated Planning Initiative, continuing to ensure that the Agency’s framework is implemented and that its concepts of local flexibility are more broadly adopted throughout the NPDES permitting and enforcement programs.

In FY 2013 NACWA will maintain its leadership role advocating on behalf of Member Agencies with regard to EPA’s ongoing work to spur development of numeric nutrient criteria, the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, and the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL – always heightening its support for watershed-based legislation.  With EPA’s new stormwater rule now anticipated to be proposed in the spring of 2013 – NACWA resources and expertise will also be focused in this area.

In line with its efforts to create a vision for the Water Resources Utility of the Future, the Association will work to craft an advocacy agenda that addresses how to use existing and new statutory authorities – as well as federal programs at an array of government agencies – to facilitate the transition and prepare our Members Agencies for their expanding critical role in protection our nation’s water resources.

Internet-based systems and platforms will change the way NACWA delivers value to Member Agencies and Affiliates in FY 2013.  Engage™ will soon serve as NACWA’s professional networking and knowledge sharing community – providing a relevant, collaborative experience for Association members and ensuring that Association staff has their collective ‘finger on the pulse’ of member positions and priorities.  Interest groups will provide forums for discussion and engagement focusing on critical advocacy issues – as well as the opportunity for members to engage with other utilities on their priority issues, whether legislative, regulatory, legal, or utility management-related.  Plans for the future include the creation of regionally-focused interest groups and opening up the Engage™ network to all public utilities, across the nation, to provide the most diverse and robust level of discussion and engagement possible.

The Engage™ network, slated for public launch at the 2012 Summer Conference in July, coupled with the Association’s presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube – and soon-to-be launched blog, The Water Voice – will provide new ways for NACWA to share its unique perspectives, communicate its advocacy message, and deliver a value added experience to members.

Lastly, and overall, the organization is committed to explore opportunities to collaborate with organizations that share NACWA’s vision and add value to the important work we do on behalf of our members.

Strengthening & Ensuring the Sustainability of Targeted Action Fund a Priority

We will work hard in FY 2013 to strengthen and ensure the sustainability of NACWA’s Targeted Action Fund (TAF).  For over 15 years the TAF has strengthened the Association’s capability to achieve its short and long-term strategic objectives.  Whether through the invaluable publication of NACWA’s triennial Financial Survey, or the important Nutrient Summit (and associated issue paper), or recent nutrient lawsuits, the projects and initiatives funded through TAF bring added value to the Association’s advocacy on behalf of its Member Agencies.  We have included an overview of active TAF projects to illustrate the significant value the fund delivers to NACWA’s members (please see Attachment C - Targeted Action Fund Key Project Highlights ).

As we move forward, we must not simply strengthen the TAF; we must ensure its sustainability into the future.  As noted, the preliminary FY 2013 General Fund budget includes a $300,000 dues allocation to support the TAF.  Cleary, NACWA’s active and aggressive legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy agenda will require significant additional support.  It is for this reason that NACWA’s Board of Directors endorsed a process through which the TAF would receive additional funds via annual voluntary contributions made by Association members at the levels recommended in the following charts.  Contributors to the TAF would receive special recognition for their support of the organization and its strategic objectives.

TAF Annual Voluntary Contribution - Publicly Owned Treatment Agencies

TAF Annual Voluntary Contribution - Corporate Affiliates

With a renewed level of support through significant member contributions, we anticipate that NACWA’s TAF will continue to consistently prove its value by protecting Member Agency interests and ensuring both cost savings and avoided costs in the coming year.

Member Comment Invited

Consistent with NACWA’s budget cycle, the Board of Directors encourages all members to review the FY 2013 preliminary General Fund budget and the plan to strengthen and sustain the Targeted Action Fund.  Please direct any comments you may have to Julius Ciaccia, NACWA Treasurer and Chair of the Association’s Finance Committee (216/641-6898 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 Monday, June 4, 2012.  All comments received will be carefully considered and action on the final budget will be taken when NACWA’s Board of Directors meets on July 15, 2012.

As the Association continues in 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.  To this end, NACWA’s Board of Directors has committed to review and revisit the Association’s dues structure in the coming year – with the goal of ensuring that both the General Fund and Targeted Action Fund are sustained through membership dues, rather than voluntary contributions or other assessments.

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 increased attention to its policy goals.  Many thanks for your continuing participation and support.

ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A - Preliminary FY 2013 General Fund Budget
Attachment B - FY 2013 Membership Dues 
Attachment C - Targeted Action Fund Key Project Highlights