Idaho gets less Homeland Security grant money

LEWISTON (AP) - The reason Idaho is receiving less federal grant money to fend off potential terrorist threats is because the state is relatively safe and the overall amount of money to be distributed has declined, officials with the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security said.

The state received about $26 million in 2003, but that has been reduced to about $6.5 million annually, said Deborah L. Ruppe, the north-central area field officer for the Idaho Bureau.

"I really firmly believe that it is based on incident and population," Ruppe told Latah County commissioners on Monday. "I firmly believe that. We're very safe in Idaho. We just are. And we don't have a very large population."

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Idaho has about 1.5 million residents.

Robert Feeley, public affairs officer for the Idaho Bureau, said "our funding reflects the national decline in homeland security funding to all states. That total pot of money that's available just isn't what it used to be."

Commissioner Tom Stroschein questioned the reduction to Idaho, suggesting that possible friction between the state and federal government might be part of the reason.

"You don't think that maybe we don't get what we think we're entitled to because we sue the federal government every chance we get?" Stroschein asked Ruppe.

Ruppe said most of the money is being used to prepare for natural disasters and hazardous material incidents, rather than potential terrorist attacks. She said much of the money has been spent by counties on equipment to improve emergency response communication between agencies.

In North Idaho, Ruppe said, Latah County has received about $150,425 annually since 2007 in Homeland Security funds. She said the 2009 allocation is about $100,000, and that the money will be available soon.

"Unfortunately, these Homeland Security grant funds are a bit late," Ruppe said. "The grant period is for several years, even though the funds are late in coming."

She said Nez Perce County will receive about $106,500, Clearwater County about $41,600, Lewis County about $31,900, and Idaho County about $57,000.

Stroschein said about 60 percent of Idaho is in federal ownership.

"I don't have any problem with the federal government paying their share of what it takes to operate Idaho," he said. "I think we're entitled to the funding we get. I'd like to see more."