As of November 27, 2009, the federal government had outlayed $69.1  billion in Recovery Act funds to state and local governments. The largest programs within these areas were the FMAP, SFSF, and  highway spending. As of November 30, 2009, the 16 sample states and the  District had drawn down more than $22.26 billion from increased FMAP  grant awards, or nearly 97 percent of funds available for federal fiscal year  2009. As of November 30, 2009, they have drawn  down about $3.58 billion, or almost 54 percent of funds available. For example, as of  November 16, 2009, $20.4 billion of the funds had been obligated for just  over 8,800 projects nationwide and $4.2 billion had been reimbursed. In  the 16 states and the District, $11.9 billion had been obligated for nearly  4,600 projects and $1.9 billion had been reimbursed. Almost half of  Recovery Act highway obligations nationally and in the 16 states and the  District have been for pavement improvements—including resurfacing,  rehabilitating, and reconstructing roadways. Almost 88 percent of Recovery Act Transit Capital Assistance Program  obligations are being used for upgrading transit facilities, improving bus  fleets, and conducting preventive maintenance. 10). The percentage of LEAs reporting they planned to use over 50 percent of  their Recovery Act education funds to retain jobs varied considerably by  state. Housing Agencies Continue to Make Progress on Recovery Act Projects, Although Less Than Half of the Funds Have Been Obligated

The Recovery Act requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban  Development (HUD) to allocate $3 billion through the Public Housing  Capital Fund to public housing agencies using the same formula for  amounts made available in fiscal year 2008. 20). An additional 467 housing agencies (15 percent) had  reported obligating more than 75 percent of their funds as of November 14,  2009. The 43  states and territories also reported that, as of September 30, 2009, they had  outlaid $113 million, or about 2 percent, of the $5 billion for  weatherization activities and had completed weatherizing about 7,300, or  about 1 percent, of the 593,000 housing units planned. Recovery Act EFSP Award Funds to LROs in 16 States and the District of Columbia

As of November 4, 2009, LROs in the 16 states and the District of Columbia  (District) that GAO is following as part of its Recovery Act review were  awarded almost $66.2 million in Recovery Act EFSP funds (76 percent) out  of almost $87 million in standard Recovery Act awards nationwide, and  about $4.8 million (almost 40 percent) of the approximately $12 million in  Recovery Act SSA awards. Our analysis of the planned use of EFSP Recovery Act funds reported by  the Local Boards in the 16 states and the District showed that the largest  planned use of funds by the LROs was for “other food” (32 percent)—that  is, food programs such as food banks and pantries, food vouchers and  food-only gift certificates, and rent and mortgage assistance (29 percent). States’ and Localities’ Uses of Recovery Act Funds

Using criteria described in our earlier bimonthly reports, we selected the  following streams of Recovery Act funding flowing to states and localities  for review during this report: increased Medicaid Federal Medical  Assistance Percentage (FMAP) grant awards; the Federal-Aid Highway  Surface Transportation Program; the Transit Capital Assistance Program,  the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF); Title I, Part A of the Elementary  and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA); Parts B and C of the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); the Public Housing  Capital Fund; the Weatherization Assistance Program; and the Emergency  Food and Shelter Program. The Recovery Act includes $1.5 billion for this  program.
Why GAO Did This Study

This report is the fourth in a series responding to a mandate under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). As of November 27, 2009, $69.1 billion, or about one quarter of the approximately $280 billion of total Recovery Act funds for programs administered by states and localities, had been paid out. The largest programs were the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF), and highways. The Government Accountability Office's (GAO) work continues to focus on 16 states and the District of Columbia (District).

What GAO Found

Of their increased FMAP grant awards for federal fiscal year 2009, the 16 states and the District had drawn down about $22.3 billion, or 97 percent of the funds available, as of November 30, 2009. Through November 16, 2009, in the 16 states and the District, $11.9 billion (76 percent) of Recovery Act highway funds had been obligated for nearly 4,600 projects and $1.9 billion (16 percent) had been reimbursed. Nationally, $20.4 billion (77 percent) had been obligated for over 8,800 projects and $4.2 billion (20 percent) had been reimbursed. Almost half of Recovery Act obligations nationally have been for pavement improvements--resurfacing, rehabilitating, and reconstructing roadways. Of the $7.5 billion in Recovery Act formula funding made available nationally for transit projects, $6.7 billion (88 percent) had been obligated through November 5, 2009. Most of these obligations are being used to upgrade transit facilities, improving bus fleets and light rail systems, and conducting preventive maintenance. As of November 6, 2009, of the Recovery Act funds available to them, the 16 states and the District had drawn down about $8.4 billion (46 percent) in SFSF; $735 million (11 percent) in Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I, Part A funds; and $755 million (10 percent) in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B funds. GAO surveyed a sample of local educational agencies about their planned uses of Recovery Act funds and found (1) retaining jobs is the primary planned use, with 63 percent planning to use over 50 percent of their SFSF funds to retain jobs; (2) other planned uses include nonrecurring items such as equipment; and (3) most report placing great importance on educational goals and reform. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has entered into funding agreements with 3,121 public housing agencies and made available nearly all of the almost $3 billion in public housing formula grant funds provided under the Recovery Act. As of November 14, these agencies had reported obligating about half of the funds HUD had made available. Housing agencies GAO visited are using funds to replace roofs, windows, and floors; upgrade kitchens and baths, and renovate rental units. Regarding the Weatherization Assistance Program, nationally, the states reported that, as of September 30, 2009, they had spent about $113 million (2 percent) of the $5 billion in Recovery Act funding and had completed weatherizing about 7,300 (1 percent) of the 593,000 housing units planned for weatherization. The Recovery Act also included a $100 million appropriation for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Local recipient organizations in the 16 states and the District were awarded almost $66.2 million and plan to use the funds primarily for "other food" services such as food banks and pantries, food vouchers, and rent and mortgage assistance.