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Iowa responses to the federal grant review process survey, 2021
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States employ a variety of processes to apply for and administer federal grants. Ballotpedia's 2021 state survey of the federal grant review process examined the general processes applied by the 50 states in order to seek and distribute federal funds.
Research from the Pew Charitable Trusts found that federal funds made up 32% (roughly $639 billion) of all state revenue in 2017, making them the second-largest source of state revenue behind state tax collections.[1] States direct federal funds to government programs related to education, healthcare, transportation, infrastructure, and other policies.[1]
This page features Iowa's responses to Ballotpedia's 2021 survey.
Background
From August 5, 2021, to September 27, 2021, Ballotpedia staff contacted the executive and legislative budget offices of all 50 states via email and/or telephone to update a publicly available 2016 survey on state approaches to the federal grant review process.
Our staff contacted state officials with the following survey questions:
- Approval processes for federal grants
- What is your state’s process for federal grant applications and the approval process?
- What is your state’s approval process when the legislature is not in session?
- How does the legislature monitor the intent of federal grants? What legislative rules allow the state greater oversight of federal funds in the budgets?
- Contingency plans for the loss or decline of federal funds
- What is your state’s contingency plan in the case of a decline or loss of federal funds?
- Quality control processes for federal grants
- What is your state’s quality control process for tracking the effectiveness of federal funds?
- Does your state attempt to estimate the cost of federal fund requirements? If so, how?
- How does your state prioritize federal funds to best meet the needs of constituents?
- If your state doesn’t appropriate key federal funds like food stamps and unemployment benefits, are your state’s federal funds off-budget? How do you track this information?
Our staff also contacted state officials with the following two new survey questions regarding federal funds made available in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic funds
- Who has decision rights over American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations in your state?
- Who has decision rights over Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund allocations in your state?
Iowa 2021 survey responses
What is your state’s process for federal grant applications and the approval process?
“A) State agencies are allowed to seek federal grants based on the specific mission and goals of the agency.
"B) Iowa utilizes an enterprise grants management system that is available to all state agencies, which is currently in the implementation phase. Agencies are able to search for federal grants, and access other state agencies that might be applying for a particular solicitation. The system also records the entities’ intent to apply and the amount of funding received.
"C) Periodically, DOM visits with agencies to discuss their federal grants and the alignment with their mission and goals.”
What is the approval process when the legislature is not in session?
“Every biannual, during the first session of the General Assembly, the “Federal Block Grant Appropriations Act” is passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. This bill is to cover the biannual of the General Assembly. This bill appropriates federal block grants as required under Iowa Code 8.41, but also provides for appropriation for all federal funds not covered specifically in the bill for the State for the upcoming biannual.”
How does the legislature monitor the intent of federal grants?
“A) All Federal funds are available to the legislature through the state’s budget system (Integrated Information for Iowa, known as I3.
"B) The State maintains a transparency website, data.iowa.gov, which houses all funds utilized by state agencies. The website allows monitoring of federal revenues and expenditures by agency and by fiscal year.
"C) The federal funds received by state agencies are reported each year in the Governor’s budget. Please refer to the response for question 2.”
What is your state’s contingency plan for state financing in the case of losses or decline in federal funds?
“The loss or decline of federal funds are reviewed on a case by case basis. DOM works with agencies regarding the ramifications to programs when changes occur. The Governor and legislature make the final budget decisions.”
What is your state’s quality control process for tracking the effectiveness of federal funds?
“Tracking program effectiveness is the same process for all funds. The State’s performance management system ensures agency data are collected to monitor progress toward achieving the Governor’s goals as well as agency strategic and program goals and objectives. Annual performance reports document agency results and communicate to customers and stakeholders what the agency does, what was accomplished during the prior fiscal year, and compares actual performance with projected levels outlined in the agency strategic and performance plans. Agency performance reports provide information to Iowans about what was achieved for their investment of tax dollars and are available to the public as well as other stakeholders. Agency plans and reports are available at https://data.iowa.gov/Government/State-of-Iowa-Accountable-Government-Act Reports-a/b2q5-faxg”
Does your state attempt to estimate the cost of federal fund requirements? If so, how?
“It is required that state match be reported in the state’s budget system.”
How does your state prioritize federal funds to best meet the needs of constituents?
“This is part of the budget system, through performance plans and measures. Performance measures entered into the state’s budgeting system provide a link between what Iowa does, how well Iowa does it, and how much it costs. This link between agency performance and budget helps agencies report how dollars are spent and make better decisions about how to allocate resources to achieve results Iowans value.”
If your state does not appropriate key federal funds like food stamps and unemployment benefits, are your state’s federal funds off budget? How do you track this information?
“These are tracked through the following: A) The state’s budget and financial system (I3) includes all federal funds received by the State B) The Federal Block Grant Appropriation Act every two years provides information on the Federal Block Grant funds received by the State. C) Enterprise grants management system contains information on federal funds D) The State maintains a transparency website, data.iowa.gov, which houses all funds utilized by state agencies. The website allows monitoring of federal revenues and expenditures by agency and by fiscal year.”
Who has decision rights over American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations in your state?
“In Iowa, the Governor will make final decisions on ARP awards.”
Who has decision rights over Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund allocations in your state?
“The Iowa Department of Education, as the Iowa State Educational Agency (SEA), allocates the ESSER Fund dollars to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs).”
Other state survey responses
Click on a state below to view its responses to the 2021 survey on the federal grant review process:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
See also
- State survey of the federal grant review process, 2021
- State responses to the federal grant review process survey, 2021
- State responses by question to the federal grant review process survey, 2021
- Federalism
External links
Footnotes
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