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Nevada Last in Federal Dollars Per Capita

by Nevada News Bureau Staff

The federal government is more generous to some states than others and least of all to Nevada, according to an analysis by Federal Funds Information for States (FFIS) which tracks budget policy across the nation.

Some states receive fewer federal dollars because they operate relatively modest Medicaid programs that trigger a smaller amount of matching federal money.

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That's the primary reason why Nevada gets the least in federal funding with just $1,090 per capita.

The U.S. average for federal spending per capita is $1,786.

Some Western states - like Wyoming and Alaska - receive a greater proportion of federal grants in the form of revenue from leasing rights to the rich resources being extracted on public lands.  

Wyoming receives $3,757 in federal spending per capita.

The federal budget provides about 30 percent of state revenue, making it the largest single source of funds for many states.

An infographic by The Pew Center for the States website Stateline.org shows the amount of federal spending for each state.

Of the per capita federal spending Nevada receives, The Pew Center for the States reports that $386 helps fund health care services; $336 goes to income security and social services; $178 goes to fund transportation; $140 goes to education; and $68 goes to a combination of other areas including agriculture, community development and employment and training services.

Per capita federal spending is a measure for states seeking to assess how they fare in their fiscal relationship with the federal government.

The FFIS analysis focuses on 200+ federal grant-in-aid programs tracked by FFIS. The analysis does not include American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) dollars, better known as "stimulus" funding.

FFIS is a joint subscription service of the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures.