Geographic Dispersion of Federal Funds in Georgia and Its Major Urban Regions

This brief examines the geographic distribution of federal spending in Georgia. Due to the continued budgetary pressure on the federal government as well as the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA), it seems likely that federal spending will decline in Georgia in the years to come. Federal spending in Georgia is substantial. For instance, fiscal year 2010 federal spending examined in this brief of $92.4 billion, represented as a ratio of Georgia 2010 gross state product (GSP), is 22 percent or roughly $9,285 spent per Georgia resident. This federal spending includes the largest federal programs: Social Security, health care spending, and military spending (including salaries and wages).