Estimating State Share if GAOA passes
Here is an assessment, using Texas as an example, of the LWCF increases under GAOA compared to those from FY 20.. followed by an NPS assessment of thefthe various issues relative to GAOA and the state’s share. fyi
Estimating your state’s allocations under full and dedicated funding using FY 20 as a baseline*
The Request. I was asked to provide an estimate of what Texas might expect in LWCF funding if GAOA passed and was funded in FY 21. I thought I would calculate it and in that way explain how to allow others to calculate what the level of funding they might expect if GAOA passes. I am sure the % increases for Texas under the three options, would approximate those for your state/territory.
There are three options, depending upon how the Appropriations staff determines, calculates and determines the 40% statutory share for state and territorial grants. I will use Texas as the example.
- First find out the % of the total your state territory receives use the following..
In FY 20 the total LWCF state grants was $ 227,125,000 and Texas received $ 12,841,022 or .057 of the total LWCF through the distribution formula. ( $ 12,841,022 divided by $ 227,125,000 = .057 ) Use this procedure to find your own % of the total LWCF you received in FY 20.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
2. Examine the options and use the % obtained in I to estimate your share in FY 21, if GAOA passes.
Option A – What we thought 40% really meant when it was passed. Note that all options assume GAOA is successful and provides full funding. Remember GOMESA funding is not guaranteed like the regular appropriation under GAOA, but it was pretty much maxed out in FY 20.
Regular allocation = $ 900,000,000* X 40% stateside = $ 360,000,000 plus full GOMESA $ 117,000,000 equals total LWCF of $ 477,000,000. Texas share of .057 = $ 27,189.000 in FY 21. (+ 212 % from FY 20 )
Option B – Another way of calculating the 40% by adding GOMESA to the total LWCF then using the state allocation of 40% to distribute the funds.
Regular allocation + $ 900,000,000*, plus full GOMESA of $ 117,000,000 = $ 1,017,000. Take this total times 40% = $ 406,800,000. Texas share of .057 = $ 23,187,600 in FY 21 ( + 181 % from FY 20 )
Option C – This is approximate to how appropriators calculated our share in FY 20.
Regular allocation $ 900,000,000* X 40% stateside = $ 360,000,000. ( this would include the $ 117 of GOMESA, so in reality we received only $ 243,000,000 of the regular distribution to reach the 40% ). Texas share of .057 = $ 20,520,000 in FY 21 ( + 160 % from FY 20 )
*************************************************************************************
Remember, these percentage increase estimates seems to apply to all of the individual state allocations in estimating your apportionment under the current language of GAOA.
* Does not account for the NPS Admin ( currently 5 m ) and any ORLP deduct ( currently 25 m ).
Joel L. NPS response to the Texas inquiry about their allocation if GAOA passes..
” At this point is it hard to pin down exactly how much would be coming into the State assistance program as a result of GAOA. First off, the House version was introduced last week, but I have not seen the bill language to see if it is different than the Senate version. The bill that the Senate will vote on next week includes language that the annual allocation of $900m would be the responsibility of the President as part of their annual request (generally submitted in Feb.) but Congress could provide for an alternate allocation through enactment of the full-year appropriations for Interior. So the amounts are not prescriptive per say. And then I’m not sure exactly how the allocation language that was part of the Dingell Act comes into play. In theory GAOA would not amend that (I think), but I suppose the President could propose something different than the 40:40:20 split.
So maybe the best option is talk about the best case scenario which could mean up to $485 million being allocated to the State assistance program. That would be $360m from LWCF (assuming 40%) and $125m from GOMESA, which would be in addition to an allocation from LWCF. So given that TX would get a boat load each year — around about $28M. Of course we’ll be getting new census numbers in the near future but I suppose TX is likely to have gained from the last census. ”
Joel
