Environmental Finance Center

Tools

We suggest using these tools for your projects when applicable.

Municipal Finance Tool!
Knowing the current and future financial status of your water system is an integral part of responsible management.

The Environmental Finance Center at Boise State University has a new tool, the Financial Dashboard, which gives a clear and powerful picture of how your municipal system is currently performing, areas where you can improve and what the future financial outlook is. After inputting information for each of the dashboards, you will be given a fully interactive tool that will allow for a limitless number of different scenarios.

To try the tool, go to http://efc.boisestate.edu/efc/ and click on "Register or log in to create your Dashboard Model".


A Guidebook of Financial Tools is a reference work intended to provide an overview of a range of ways and means that are useful for paying for sustainable environmental systems.

It is divided into ten sections, presenting outline information on approximately 340 financial tools that include traditional means of raising revenue, borrowing capital, enhancing credit, creating public-private partnerships, and providing technical assistance as well as financing tools that are, or might soon be, available to address significant environmental priorities. 

The Guidebook is the product of a collaborative effort among members of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB), the Directors and staff of nine university-based Environmental Finance Centers, the staff of EPA's Environmental Finance Program, and numerous other contributors.

To view the Guidebook, click here. 


Plan2Fundtm V 3.0 is a web based Watershed Planning Tool developed by the Environmental Finance Center at Boise State University that helps organizations determine their funding needs to meet the goals and objectives of their Watershed Program Plan. Users walk through estimating the costs of their Watershed Program Plan’s Goals and Objectives, assessing any local matches, and determining funding needs to meet your Goals and Objectives. The results from Plan2Fundtm can be used to search for funding sources utilizing the Environmental Finance Center’s web based Directory of Watershed Resources. 

Plan2Fundtm V. 3.0 can also be used in conjunction with Plan2Fund OPTtm for a complete financial decision-making package. Since both are web based applications, you will only need to load information once, and it will transition seamlessly between the two. 

The Directory of Watershed Resources is an on-line, searchable database for watershed restoration funding. The database includes information on federal, state, private, and other funding sources and assistance. Users can query the information in a variety of ways including agency sponsor, keyword, or by a detailed search.  Please call toll free, (866) 627-9847 for information and assistance.

 

CAPFinanceTM is an integrated capital asset inventory and reinvestment analysis software program for drinking water and wastewater systems.

To download CapFinance, please go to the Boise State EFC website and login or register in the upper right corner of the page.

  
UtilityRate Design with Rate CheckupTM  is a powerful, easy-to-use rate-setting and financial planning software for water utilities. The program automatically generates rate schedules, and prepares a three-year budget and financial forecast. Developing user rates has never been easier! Rate CheckupTM will:
  • Lead you through the input of your customer, facility, and budget data
  • Lead you through the rate design process
  • Develop a three-year budget forecast
  • Develop a Base Charge and a Volume Rate for each customer group
  • Provide design options, including:
    • Multiple customer groups
    • Optional Seasonal Rate
    • Optional Lifeline Rate
  • IBM - Compatible PC
  • CD Drive
  • Microsoft Windows 98 or later
  • Microsoft Excel 2000 or later
  • Operate integrally with CAPFinanceTM
To download Rate Checkup, please go to the Boise State EFC website and login or register in the upper right corner of the page.