INTERGOVERNMENTAL GRANT SYSTEM AS SEEN BY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS - THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL GRANT SYSTEM - AN ASSESSMENT AND PROPOSED POLICIES

• NCJ Number: 43297
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 292 pages
• Corporate Author: U.S. Advisory Cmssn on Intergovernmental Relations
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A SERIES OF SURVEYS OF TOWNS AND CITIES, OF STATE OFFICIALS, AND OF FEDERAL GRANT ADMINISTRATORS FOUND ALL LEVELS WERE DISSATISFIED WITH THE CURRENT MAZE OF PAPERWORK BUT FELT GRANTS ACHIEVED RESULTS.

Abstract

FOUR SURVEYS WERE MADE OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS ON LOCAL PROBLEMS. A TOTAL OF 746 (32.3 PERCENT) OF 2309 CITIES AND COUNTIES SAMPLED RETURNED A 15-PAGE QUESTIONNAIRE ON GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION. ALL STATE OFFICIALS DEALING WITH GRANTS WERE SURVEYED AND A SPECIAL SURVEY WAS MADE OF FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICERS ADMINISTERING GRANTS. ALL AGREED THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON LOCAL DECISIONMAKING; WHETHER OR NOT THIS IMPACT WAS FAVORABLE WAS DEBATED. REGARDING THE LEAA AND PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH GRANTS, ON WHICH SPECIAL QUESTIONS WERE ASKED, LOCAL OFFICIALS TENDED TO FEEL THAT THESE GRANTS SKEWED LOCAL BUDGET PRIORITIES LESS THAN DID THE CATEGORICAL GRANTS. LOCAL OFFICIALS ALSO INDICATED THAT BLOCK GRANTS OVERALL, AND THE LEAA GRANT IN PARTICULAR, HAD MORE OF A LASTING STIMULATIVE EFFECT. BIGGEST PROBLEMS SEEN WERE: THE INABILITY OF SMALLER CITIES AND TOWNS TO COMPETE WITH LARGER JURISDICTIONS FOR GRANT MONEY, THE MULTIPLICITY OF BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS, AND THE CONFUSING MAZE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS. LARGER CITIES FELT THE CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE WAS DOING A FAIR JOB, BUT SURVEY REPLIES INDICATE THAT SMALLER JURISDICTIONS NEED TO BE MADE MORE AWARE OF ITS INFORMATION. REVENUE SHARING RECEIVED THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF APPROVAL. STATE GOVERNMENTS CHANNELERS OF FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS WERE CRITIZED BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY IMPOSED. THERE IS RISING LOCAL IRRITATION WITH CERTAIN ACROSS-THE-BOARD GRANT REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REQUIREMENTS, ESPECIALLY AMONG SMALLER CITIES WHICH DO NOT HAVE LARGE LEGAL STAFFS. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH STATE GRANTS IS THE UNCERTAINTY OF FUNDING. ALL OF THE BUREAUCRATIC DISSATISFACTIONS WITH FEDERAL GRANTS ARE ALSO EXPRESSED REGARDING STATE GRANTS. DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM THIS SURVEY ARE BEING PRESENTED IN A SEPARATE VOLUME OF THIS REPORT.