NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

June 6, 1999

Federal Expenditures in North Dakota Drop But Less than Other States

Per capita federal expenditures in North Dakota decreased from $6,661 in 1997 to $6,473 last year, a drop of 2.8 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars. Even so, the 1998 ranking placed North Dakota sixth among all states in federal expenditures received per capita, according to the latest Population Bulletin from the State Data Center at North Dakota State University. In 1997, North Dakota's rank was eighth place, when Virginia was first with $8,221 and Utah was last with $4,156.

The largest share of federal expenditures, 28 percent, was paid directly to individuals for Social Security, federal retirement and disability payments in 1998. This proportion was up slightly from 27 percent in 1997, reports Richard Rathge, data center director.

"As the state's population ages, the share of federal funds for Social Security will grow," Rathge says.

Currently, more than 21 percent of the population in North Dakota's 27 smallest counties (those with a population base less than 5,000 people) is older than 65 years of age. Rathge says this proportion will rise to 25 percent within the next decade.

In contrast, only 12 percent of the population in the state's 13 largest counties (those with a population base more than 10,000) is older than 65, but this proportion will jump to 19 percent within the next 15 years, Rathge says.

Counties with the largest amount of federal expenditures included Burleigh ($597 million), Cass ($453 million), Grand Forks ($420 million) and Ward ($410 million). Counties with the largest amount of per capita expenditures included Slope ($10,103), Sioux ($10,063), Foster ($9,974), and Benson ($9,817).

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Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136

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