Annual Assessments

The Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NERA) serves the agricultural experiment stations in the Northeast through the promotion of collaboration.  The operations of NERA are funded through assessments to member institutions.  Per NERA rules of operation, the budget of NERA is divided among the member institutions based upon a station’s Hatch Multistate Research Fund (MRF) allocation in comparison to the total regional MRF allocation.  (The basis of allocation of Hatch funds is codified at 7 U.S.C. 361a-i.)  In short, larger states and institutions contribute a greater proportion of the assessments versus smaller states and institutions.

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NERA Budget

NERA operates on an annual budget of approximately $500,000.  Annual assessments to member institutions contribute approximately $400,000.  The FY2024 NERA budget was approved during the NERA Business Meeting of August 10, 2023.

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What does the NERA budget pay for?

The annual budget covers the salary and fringe benefits of the NERA Executive Director, the NERA Coordinator, and operating costs.   Examples of operating costs include planning grants, regional meetings support, joint efforts with the Association of Northeastern Extension Directors (NEED), NERA travel, NERA website management, regional communications efforts, and coordination with regional and national organizations.

 

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