Chapter 2: Federal Revenues

In FY 90, inflation-adjusted federal revenues in the United States were $17.8 billion (table 2.a). By FY 02, federal revenues had risen to $33.2 billion, an increase of $15.4 billion, or 86 percent (table 2.b). Nevada experienced the largest increase in federal revenues between FY 90 and FY 02 (214 percent). The smallest increase was in Alabama (32 percent).

The annual percent change in federal revenues nationwide ranged from a decline of 2 percent to an increase of 12 percent from FY 90 through FY 02 (figure 2-4 and table 2.b). Federal revenues increased the most between FY 01 and FY 02. Every state except Arizona, Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin experienced at least one decrease in federal revenues over the 13-year period.

• View Figure 2-4.

Federal revenues per pupil

As illustrated in figure 2-5, inflation-adjusted federal revenues per pupil in the United States were $440 in FY 90 and $696 in FY 02 (table 2.c). In FY 90, they were lowest in New Hampshire at $204 and highest in Alaska at $1,638. In FY 02, federal revenues per pupil remained lowest in New Hampshire at $415 and highest in Alaska at $1,800. Federal revenues per pupil were $1,877 in the District of Columbia in FY 02.¹²

• View Figure 2-5.

Between FY 90 and FY 02, federal revenues per pupil increased $256, or 58 percent (table 2.d). Federal revenues per pupil increased the most in Oklahoma (167 percent) and the least in Alaska (10 percent). Between FY 90 and FY02, the median percent change among the states in federal revenues per pupil was 63 percent (derived from table 2.d).

The annual percent change in federal revenues per pupil ranged from a low of -3 percent to a high of 11 percent from FY 90 through FY 02 (figure 2-6). Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, only Wisconsin experienced an increase in federal revenues per pupil each year from FY 90 through FY 02 (table 2.d).

• View Figure 2-6.

Percentage of total revenues: Federal revenues

The federal contribution toward public elementary and secondary education was approximately 6 percent of total revenues in FY 90 (table 2.e). Thirteen years later, federal revenues had increased to nearly 8 percent of total revenues.

In FY 90, federal revenues ranged from a low of 3 percent of all revenues in Connecticut to a high of 16 percent in Mississippi. By FY 02, the percentage of federal revenues ranged from a low of 4 percent in New Jersey to a high of 17 percent in Alaska. Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New Jersey had the lowest percentage of federal revenues across the 13-year period, while Alaska, Mississippi, and New Mexico had the highest.

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