EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10 A.M. EST, APRIL 2, 1997 (WEDNESDAY) Public Information Office CB97-54 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-4067 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Gerard Keffer 301-457-1565 Federal Government Disburses $1.4 Trillion In Domestic Funding In Fiscal Year 1996, Census Bureau Reports The federal government distributed $1.4 trillion for domestic grants, benefits, subsidies, salaries, and goods and services purchased in fiscal year 1996, according to two reports issued today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. "These reports provide the most comprehensive information on the geographic distribution of federal expenditures," said Gerard Keffer, chief of the Governments Division's Federal Programs Branch. The reports, "Federal Expenditures by State for Fiscal Year 1996" (FES/96) and "Consolidated Federal Funds Report, Fiscal Year 1996, County Areas" (CFFR/96) exclude interest on federal debt and other federal payments that could not be allocated geographically. California received the most federal funds of any state area, followed by New York and Texas. Los Angeles County received more than any other county or county equivalent area in the U.S. or its outlying areas. Los Angeles County and New York City each received more federal money than did 43 states. However, on a per capita basis, New York City would rank 464th and Los Angeles would rank 1210th among the 3,137 counties and county equivalent areas in the U.S., in terms of federal funds received. Nationally, federal domestic assistance in 1996 increased 2.2 percent over 1995. The main component of the increase was direct payments to individuals. According to the reports, federal government payroll expenditures totaled $170 billion, a 1 percent increase from 1995. Federal government procurement contract obligations totaled $201 billion in 1996, a 1 percent decrease from 1995. The top five states in federal spending per capita were: Rank State Amount Per Capita 1 Virginia $7,536 2 Maryland $7,303 3 Alaska $7,151 4 New Mexico $7,048 5 Hawaii $6,771 The county report shows the top five recipient county areas were: Rank County/County Equivalent Amount 1 Los Angeles County, Calif.$40.9 billion 2 New York City, N.Y. $40.7 billion 3 Cook County, Ill. $23.0 billion 4 San Diego County, Calif. $16.7 billion 5 St. Louis City, Mo. $12.1 billion Direct payments for individuals was the largest federal spending category in each of those top five counties. Defense spending, which includes payroll, defense contracts and grants, and military pensions, totaled $232 billion in 1996. The top five recipient counties of federal defense spending were: Rank County/County Equivalent Amount 1 St. Louis City, Mo. $9.1 billion 2 Los Angeles County, Calif.$8.2 billion 3 San Diego County, Calif. $7.5 billion 4 Fairfax County, Va. $5.3 billion 5 Orange County, Calif. $4.1 billion-X-The Census Bureau--pre-eminent collector and provider of timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. In over 100 surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, businesses, industries, and institutions.
