December 19, 2001—The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices released preliminary survey results outlining the state costs associated with funding the homeland security measures called for by President Bush and the Office of Homeland Security. Featuring data from seventeen states and one territory and representing more than 25 percent of the US population, the survey indicates the cost of homeland security to the states will be approximately $4 billion in the first year alone. Bioterrorism and emergency communications represent $3 billion of the costs with an additional $1 billion for guarding critical infrastructure.
“If Congress only provides funds to the federal government for homeland security and bioterrorism, it will be making a large mistake,” said NGA Vice Chairman Kentucky Gov. Paul E. Patton. “State budgets are already burdened by the recession and we have responded to the requests of various federal agencies for assistance in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and to be blunt, these services aren’t cheap. We need funds that will afford us the flexibility necessary to deal with the broad range of security responsibilities that now confront every governor.”
The Center for Best Practices will update the survey as results from additional states become available.
For more information, contact NGA.
