Vermont 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 Vermont'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?
Vermont 2021 survey responses
What is your state’s process for federal grant applications and the approval process?
“Different entities (agencies & departments) apply for federal grants as they become available. If awarded, the State has a process by which the Administration approves the acceptance and then it is forwarded to either the Joint Fiscal Committee or the Legislature for their approval, dependent on whether the Legislature is in session. For recurring grants, spending authority is established through the annual appropriations bill process.”
What is the approval process when the legislature is not in session?
“During the off session, grants are forwarded (once approved by the Administration) to the Joint Fiscal Committee for consideration. The Joint Fiscal Committee consists of ten members, five from each branch and representatives from each party. If a legislator has questions, the grant review is scheduled for the next meeting; otherwise, the grant is considered approved after 30 days.”
How does the legislature monitor the intent of federal grants?
“This is done through the committee process during the legislative session, within the appropriations committees and other committees of jurisdiction. The legislature requests that agencies and departments use certain tools, such as RBA and LEAN. Agencies and departments submit a full catalogue of all federal grants within their budgets to the appropriations committees and committees of jurisdiction to assist in the discussion.”
What is your state’s contingency plan for state financing in the case of losses or decline in federal funds?
“The state currently maintains a statutory reserve of 5% of total major revenues as well as a rainy day fund. While the rainy day fund does not have a statutory reserve level, it was at 16% of FY2021 appropriations after FY2021 close-out. The Administration and the Legislative Fiscal Office monitor federal funds and, with recipient agencies, try to identify risks and plan accordingly.”
What is your state’s quality control process for tracking the effectiveness of federal funds?
“The state uses processes to evaluate programs but does not differentiate between funding sources for program evaluation.”
Does your state attempt to estimate the cost of federal fund requirements? If so, how?
“The annual budgeting and appropriations process looks at total program costs. For many of our programs, the program policy reflects combined state and federal funding. We do not break out federal requirements costs distinctly from overall program costs.”
How does your state prioritize federal funds to best meet the needs of constituents?
“The state generally applies and approves grants for purposes that meet the statutory requirements of agencies and departments.”
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?
“The state appropriates most but not all of these funds. We administer the eligibility and enrollment and appropriate the administration funds for the SNAP program but, except for the cash out portion (elder) of SNAP - we do not appropriate the benefit portion of SNAP. We only appropriate the operating expenses associated with the UI trust fund - the benefits to individuals themselves are not appropriated in the budget.”
Who has decision rights over American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations in your state?
"Granting spending authority for ARPA SFRF funds is a joint gubernatorial and legislative decision. During the 2020 legislative session, an ARPA SFRF spending plan was provided to the legislature by the Governor. The plan was then debated and modified by the legislature in the resulting FY2022 appropriations bill, similar to the operating budget process. The Governor then signed this bill into law, having agreed with the legislature’s modifications. For the upcoming fiscal year, ARPA SFRF appropriations will be included in the Governor’s FY2023 budget recommendation. The final allocations of ARPA SFRF will be determined by passage of the appropriations bill by the legislature, and subject to the Governor’s acceptance of the bill with his signature."
Who has decision rights over Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund allocations in your state?
"Per 2021 Act 74 [the FY2022 appropriations bill], the Secretary of the Agency of Education has the authority to develop a plan for expenditure of ESSER funds to submit to the U.S. Department of Education. This plan will be submitted to the legislative education committees for review, but not approval. During the 2020 legislative session, the Secretary of the Agency of Education worked closely with the legislative education committees to secure a handful of appropriations written in bills, which ultimately became session laws, that support his plan."
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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