State Environmental Spending
2005- 2008
According to an ECOS press release “States Increase in Environmental Spending Amid Decline in Federal Support” Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) presents spending data showing that the states have upheld their obligation to fund environmental programs even as the federal contribution has declined. During the period of the study (2005-2008), state spending on the environment is expected to nearly double, while federal appropriations will have decreased by about $650 million.
Federal funds now average only about 23% of the source of all state environmental agency funds, a significant cut from 39% in FY2005. States now operate 96% of the federal programs that are delegable to them, such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. On average, states receive 40 new federal rules to implement each year.
According to March 2008 ECOS Green Report:
State environmental agencies’ funding has risen during the period 2005-2008 by relying on non-traditional fund sources. General funds have increased slightly while federal funds have declined. “Other” funds- such as permit fees, bonds, state trust funds, and funds that are not appropriated from general fund sources - have doubled during this period.
The federal government is decoupling issuance of environmental rules from the cost of their implementation, by gradually transferring the cost of federal environmental rules to the states. State spending on the environment continues to increase in spite of inflation and cuts in federal support since fiscal 2004.
State Environmental Agency* Spending and Sources, 2005-2008
|
Normalized Data (projected totals for 50 states) |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
General Revenue |
$1,615,286,693 |
$1,860,780,611 |
$1,714,007,636 |
$1,707,182,455 |
|
Federal Funds |
$1,906,040,255 |
$2,026,350,018 |
$2,161,063,122 |
$3,056,273,849 |
|
Other Funds |
$3,975,451,703 |
$6,377,608,321 |
$6,476,661,033 |
$7,890,521,526 |
|
Projected Total Expenditures, 50 States |
$7,496,788,650 |
$10,264,738,951 |
$10,621,731,791 |
$12,653977,830 |
|
Projected Total Employees |
48,746 |
54,145 |
51,271 |
52,262 |
*Does not include natural resource spending
Projected Total Expenditures, 50 States
FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008
General Revenue
$1,615,286,693
$1,860,780,611
$1,714,007,636
$1,707,182,455
Federal Funds as Appropriated
$3,575,348,500
$3,123,533,367
$3,213,606,367
$2,926,222,518
Other Funds
$3,975,451,703
$6,377,608,321
$6,746,611,033
$7,890,521,526
Projected Total Expenditures, 50 States
$9,166,086,895
$11,451,942,299
$11,674,275,036
$12,523,926,499
Sources of State Environmental Funding by Percentage
|
FY 2005 |
FY 2006 |
FY 2007 |
FY 2008 | |
| % from Federal |
39.0% |
28.1% |
27.5% |
23.4% |
|
% from General Funds |
17.6% |
16.2% |
14.7% |
13.6% |
|
% from All Other Sources |
43.4% |
55.7% |
57.8% |
63.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of States with Budget Increases |
n/a |
35 |
33 |
34 |
|
Number of States with Budget Decreases |
n/a |
9 |
15 |
11 |
According to ECOS Executive Director Steve Brown's 2008 Spring Meeting Presentation:
Earlier Studies:
ECOS has collected data on state environmenal spending in 1986, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2003. ECOS has also kept track of and reported on budget changes in 2001 and 2002.
State Environmental and Natural Resources Spending
1986-2003
|
Fiscal Year |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
|
State Spending (billions adjusted) |
$ 8.70 |
$11.06 |
$11.27 |
$11.60 |
$11.87 |
$12.43 |
$12.70 |
$13.22 |
$13.19 |
|
Funding to states from Fed sources (billions adjusted) |
$ 3.86 |
$ 3.69 |
$ 3.34 |
$ 3.19 |
$ 3.28 |
$ 3.46 |
$ 3.56 |
$ 3.38 |
$ 3.24 |
|
Average state per capita environmental spending (adjusted ) |
$36.22 |
$45.65 |
$46.10 |
$46.98 |
$47.59 |
$49.31 |
$49.81 |
$51.30 |
$50.67 |
|
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 | |
|
$14.00 |
$14.57 |
$13.78 |
$14.66 |
$15.31 |
$14.35 |
$14.89 |
$15.35 |
$15.10 | |
|
$ 3.52 |
$ 3.38 |
$ 3.64 |
$ 3.49 |
$ 3.75 |
$ 4.13 |
$ 4.56 |
$ 4.61 |
$ 5.00 | |
|
$53.26 |
$54.95 |
$51.45 |
$54.22 |
$56.09 |
$50.99 |
$52.19 |
$53.23 |
$51.80 |
All figures are adjusted to 2003 dollars.
Data prior to 1998 was collected by the ECOS Executive Director and his colleagues while employed by The Council of State Governments, Lexington, Kentucky.
Publications on State Spending
State Environmental Spending in 2003
When the Axe Falls, How State Environmental Agencies Deal with the Cuts 2002 Report
State Environmental Spending 2001 Report