As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
1. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.
[PL 2017, c. 313, §1 (AMD).]
1-A. Capital grant. "Capital grant" means a grant award from the fund pursuant to section 6208 to cover eligible costs for a capital grant as specified in subsection 5, paragraph C.
[PL 2017, c. 313, §2 (NEW).]
2. Cooperative services grant. "Cooperative services grant" means a grant award from the fund pursuant to section 6208 to cover eligible costs for a cooperative services grant as specified in subsection 5, paragraph B.
[PL 2017, c. 313, §3 (AMD).]
3. Department. "Department" means the Department of Economic and Community Development.
[PL 2017, c. 313, §3 (AMD).]
4. Eligible applicant. "Eligible applicant" means a municipality, county or regional government subdivision.
[PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
5. Eligible costs. "Eligible costs" means the actual and direct expenses incurred in implementing a cooperative services grant, a capital grant or a planning grant awarded under section 6208, including expenses incurred in connection with the following activities for cooperative services grants, capital grants and planning grants.
A. Eligible costs for a planning grant include the expense of:
(1) Studies to examine alternative methods of achieving collaboration, including those adopted by other municipalities;
(2) Cost-benefit studies; and
(3) Facilitation of community meetings and public outreach and education. [PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
B. Eligible costs for a cooperative services grant include the expense of:
(1) Execution and implementation of an interlocal agreement under chapter 115, a tax base sharing arrangement or another regional government mechanism for achieving collaboration;
(2) Joint strategic planning or comprehensive or capital investment planning;
(3) Public outreach and education;
(4) Collaboration or consolidation of offices or services;
(5) Professional services, such as those provided by attorneys, consultants, facilitators and architects; and
(6) Administrative services and costs, such as photocopying, printing, telephone service and travel costs. [PL 2017, c. 313, §3 (AMD).]
C. Eligible costs for a capital grant include the expense of:
(1) Site, facility, infrastructure or utility system acquisition;
(2) Repair, rehabilitation or renovation of existing facilities;
(3) New construction or expansion of existing facilities; and
(4) Purchase of major equipment or systems. [PL 2017, c. 313, §3 (NEW).]
Administrative and other costs of ongoing operations that would otherwise be budgeted by a municipality, county or regional government subdivision are not eligible costs.
[PL 2017, c. 313, §3 (AMD).]
6. Fund. "Fund" means the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Local and Regional Services established by section 6202.
[PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. S, §7 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. S, §16 (AFF).]
7. Planning grant. "Planning grant" means a grant award from the fund pursuant to section 6208 to cover eligible costs of developing a qualifying project for a cooperative services grant.
[PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
8. Qualifying project. "Qualifying project" means a project designed to achieve significant and sustainable savings in the cost of delivering local and regional governmental services that reduces the demand for property tax revenues through collaborative approaches to service delivery, enhanced regional delivery systems, consolidated administrative services, broad-based purchasing alliances and interlocal agreements.
[PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
9. Regional government subdivision. "Regional government subdivision" means:
A. A regional planning commission or regional council of governments established under chapter 119; or [PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
B. A legal entity created by interlocal agreement pursuant to chapter 115. [PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2005, c. 266, §2 (NEW).]
