NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
May 4, 2000
Per capita federal expenditures in North Dakota rose from $6,616 in 1998 to $7,157 last year, an increase of 8.2 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars. The 1999 payment level placed North Dakota sixth among all states in per capita federal expenditures, according to the latest Population Bulletin released from the State Data Center at North Dakota State University.
Federal spending on a per capita basis in 1999 topped $8,000 in three states: Alaska ($8,521), Virginia ($8,416) and Maryland ($8,119). New Mexico ($7,805) was fourth, followed in fifth place by Hawaii ($7,228), says Richard Rathge, director of North Dakota's State Data Center. Montana ($7,052) placed seventh.
The largest share of North Dakota's federal expenditures came in two forms of direct payments--direct payments for individuals other than for retirement and disability and direct payments other than for individuals. This category of expenditures accounted for 32 percent of all federal expenditures to North Dakota, or roughly $1.4 billion in 1999, Rathge says. Within this category, agricultural program payments represented 56 percent, or $805 million.
"The poor prices for agricultural products have triggered subsidy relief for farmers that has more than offset the drop in farm program payments due to the phaseout provision of the 1995 Farm Bill," Rathge says. "For example, wheat production stabilization dropped from $146 million in 1995 to $22 million in 1996. However, due in part to price relief, nearly $398 million in federal expenditures was paid for wheat stabilization in 1999 and nearly $135 million for feed grains, which was $21 million in 1996."
The second largest share of federal expenditures, 27 percent, was paid directly to individuals for Social Security, federal retirement and disability payments in 1999, Rathge says. This proportion was down slightly from 28 percent in 1998. Meanwhile, federal defense expenditures in the state grew 14.3 percent from 1998 to 1999 and reached $545 million last year.
North Dakota counties receiving the most federal money overall in 1999 were Burleigh ($573 million), Cass ($496 million), Ward ($469 million) and Grand Forks ($424 million). Rathge says the counties showing the largest per capita federal expenditures were Cavalier ($13,236), Foster ($12,547), Burke ($12,148) and Sheridan ($12,142).
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Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136
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