Federal Footprint: A Snapshot of Federal Funds use in Nevada's State Budget
All states in the U.S. rely on federal funds as a source of revenue. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, 36.4 percent of states’ total revenue in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 came from federal funding sources and was used to support a wide range of state-level programs and activities in health care, education, and transportation. Federal fund utilization among some states, however, can vary widely. USAFacts.gov reports North Dakota’s budget was comprised of the lowest share of federal funds, at 22.2 percent, while Louisiana’s share came in at 50.5 percent in FY2022.
What is the federal funding picture in Nevada?
Looking back at FY2022, Nevada’s share of federal funds stood at 28.7 percent, or $10.8 billion. This was slightly above the national average. As we fast forward to Nevada’s current budget for the 2023-2025 biennium, federal funds make up 27.7 percent or roughly $14.8 billion out of the total $53.4 billion state budget.
The question then becomes where these funds are allocated across Nevada’s budget accounts and programs.
This policy brief provides a comprehensive overview of the role federal funding plays in supporting Nevada’s state programs, outlines the types of federal funding Nevada receives, and describes how these funds are distributed across state agencies.
The report also details the impact of federal dollars on specific programs. Nearly 80 percent of federal funding in Nevada supports Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and various public health and behavioral services. Other key recipients include the Departments of Transportation, Education, and Agriculture. For example, federal funds support school nutrition programs, Title I education funding for disadvantaged schools, and employment services for people with disabilities.
While this brief does not capture the federal funding flowing directly to community entities or localities, nor does it contemplate the impact of changes to federal funding on state programs, it does provide a simplified illustration of the federal dollars currently flowing through state programs and serves as a quick reference to lawmakers and the public.
Read and download the brief below.
Do you have questions about this research brief? Please email us: info@guinncenter.org.