August 16, 2005Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs 2005 North American Pesticide Applicator Certification and Safety Education Workshop.

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

2005 North American Pesticide Applicator Certification and Safety Education Workshop

Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Gary Fish – Maine Board of Pesticides ControlJack Peterson – Arizona Department of Agriculture

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Budget Woes

• Is this what the cube next to you looks like?

• Layoffs and attrition with no money to fill vacant positions

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

The Sea of Red

• Has your budget followed the path of the federal budget?

• Or maybe even worse?

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Budget Outrage

• Have you thought about meeting with an anonymous source to discover the answer to your dilemma

• Did he/she tell you to “Follow the money”

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Enter… The Answer Men

• We have all the answers

• NOT!

• But you have provided us with a few to share

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Hair Brain Schemes

• In Maine we’ll try anything– Lottery tickets– License plates– Tax check-offs– Container

surcharges

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Lottery Ticket

• Introduced to our current legislature– 52% of funds for BPC – 45% for UMCE– 3% for Maine IPM

Council

• Estimated to bring in $750,000

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Cash for Trash

– Went to the Veterans & Legal Affairs Committee instead of Ag Committee

– No real testimony against it, but Lottery Commission had reservations because of an existing ticket for the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund (MOHF)

– Voted ought not to pass by the committee

– If the MOHF decides to drop their ticket we will re-introduce the bill

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

License Plates

• Loon license plates for wildlife and parks funding (80,000 plates/year) Around $1 million

• Recently approved Maine Ag Tag, must get at least 2000 orders before they will be issued for MAITC program. $10/plate will go to MAITC

• How about a new IPM - PSEP plate?

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Tax Check-off

• Maine has the Chickadee check-off

• Averaged around $80,000 annually, currently only around $50,000

• A voluntary tax check-off on the Maine income tax return

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Container Surcharge

• Jim Dill’s original proposal in 2003 was to add a 20 cent surcharge on each container of home use pesticide product purchasedshown by a sticker added to each container

• This proposal is coming back, but without the sticker and only a 15 cent fee. Fees would be assessed directly on the purchaser at the point of sale and sent to the State Revenue Service to distribute to us

• Estimated to bring in over $1 million in Maine

• Would be apportioned in a similar way as the lottery funds

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Purpose

• Generate discussion to help states manage decreased funding levels

• Survey on listservs SLA’s and CES’s– Responses 31

• 14 SLA• 1 Canadian• 1 EPA• 15 CES

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Fees

• Charging or Raising – Postage – Training – Development fees with materials– Materials – License fees – certification,

business, pilots

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Fees Cont’d

– Fee for live training– Per CEU hour fee– Increase registration fees– Fees for exams, duplicate

licenses, expedited license processing

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Effects

• Combining

• Laid off – done less

• Internships

• Better coordination with others to cover PSEP topics

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Cooperation

• Coordinating with industry – pay for facilities, snacks, mailings etc.

• Use industry materials for small categories anti-fouling paints, sewer root control

• Cooperate with other states• Cooperate with CES• Leverage relationships of location – some SLA’s

at Universities – use their expertise• Use available funding to pass on – growing

funds pass on money to help with training

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Other

• Legislation to raise fees• Self Funding – Maine,

Virginia, PA• Able to regulate fees

through regulation• Additional EPA grants

Show us the money!

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Other Cont’d

• Not including the extras – workbooks no brochures which enhance $3/ = $600/yr

• Web site expansion – more self help

• Reduced printing• More things electronically

available• Lesser venues• Less customer service• Innovative learning – Minnesota

Can technology save us?

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Other Cont’d

• Using outdated materials• Less classes being held• Computer based testing and

on-line licensing• Structural Agencies – Termite

Action Reporting Form – TARF

• Dedicated fund – penalties, late fees – non-reverting

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Other Cont’d

• Expand audience– Contracting with

organizations– Cost recovery

• Sell legislature – more state money – more state priorities vs. federal

August 16, 2005 Non-Traditional Funding for Certification Programs

Other Cont’d

• Improvise

• Pesticide control bake sales

• Celebrity field equipment wash.  Bring in your hi-boy or blast sprayer, and we'll give it a good scrub!