Homeland security: who gets what and how.

• Position: Statestats

How will funds for first responders be distributed to the states in FY 2006? Will it be based on risk, population or some other formula? Will it include a state minimum? Will the current minimum be reduced?

These are some of the unanswered questions left by members of Congress when they recessed for the 2004 elections.

In 2004, each state received 0.75 percent of the funds appropriated for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program and the Citizen Corp Grant Program, with the remaining funds distributed to states based on population.

In addition to these programs, some states also received funds through a discretionary grant program known as the Urban Area Security Initiative. As a result, states with larger populations usually get the most funds--over 37 percent goes to just seven states: California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. These same states, however, usually have lower per capita allocations. For example, in FY 2004, California received $317.4 million ($9.03 per capita) and Wyoming received $18.8 million ($37.60 per capita).

As Congress looks to change the allocation of first responder resources for FY 2006 (the formula will remain the same FY 2005), states of all sizes may have an interest in the outcome of this debate.

FY2004 STATE ALLOCATIONS FOR HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS Amount State (in millions) California $317.1 New York $183.4 Texas $154.1 Florida $130.8 Illinois $113.8 Pennsylvania $111.0 Ohio $100.9 New...