April 7, 2004
updated May 12, 2004
50-State Update: Analysis Details State Costs of Federal Mandates
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mississippi will spend at least 8.2 percent of its general fund appropriations in fiscal year 2004 to cover the costs of programs imposed upon the state by the federal government, according to a 50-state analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
On the other end of the spectrum, Hawaii and Connecticut's budgets are least affected by federal mandates. Unfunded mandates imposed on Hawaii account for only 2.1 percent of their general fund appropriations while mandates cost Connecticut 2.5 percent.
"What this new analysis shows is that every state in the union must start their general fund appropriations process in the red," said Utah Speaker Marty Stephens, president of NCSL. "Unfortunately for states, the federal government continues to overstep its bounds by imposing its will on state governments."
With its launch of Mandate Monitor last month, NCSL renewed its campaign against the growing trend towards federal unfunded mandates. The initial installment of the Mandate Monitor identified more than $29 billion in unfunded costs to states to implement federal programs.
Of the $29 billion in unfunded mandates for fiscal year 2004, NCSL was able to identify costs to individual states for $24.4 billion of the total. The map shown above includes individual state costs for No Child Left Behind (Title I grants to local education authorities only), Medicaid, food stamps, special education, election reform and transportation sanctions. Certain costs of No Child Left Behind and certain programs delegated to states by the Environmental Protection Agency could not be quantified on a state-by-state basis.
NCSL's Stephens says that the organization does not object to the federal programs but to the fact that Washington does not foot the bill.
"While states prefer to set their own policy agendas, we are not opposed to a balanced partnership with the federal government," Stephens said. "Many of these programs we've identified are not without merit, they are just without means."
Detailed 50-state information can be accessed at http://www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2004/50state04.htm. For more information about the costs of various programs to individuals states, please contact NCSL at 202-624-8667.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealth's and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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