California Leads States in U.S. Aid, Report Says

WASHINGTON — California received more money from Uncle Sam than any other state last year but Californians got less in government benefits per capita than most Americans, the U.S. Census Bureau says in a report to be released today.

Los Angeles County, meanwhile, received more federal cash than 43 states and all the nation’s counties except New York City. San Diego County ranked fourth among counties.

The Census Bureau’s annual analysis of federal outlays shows that Washington spent an average of $5,161 on every man, woman and child in the country last year.

The federal government spent an average of $4,853 on Californians, less than it spent on residents of 29 other states, the report shows. That’s because the state has a fast-growing and relatively young population; thus, Washington spends less on retirement and health care in California, said Robert McArthur, the bureau’s chief of federal programs.

Overall, California received $152.5 billion in federal aid last year, down from $154 billion in 1994, census figures show. The decrease is attributable largely to a drop in Defense Department contracts, McArthur said.

New York, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania followed California as the leaders among states in federal funds received.

About one-quarter of the state’s total take, or $40.2 billion, went to Los Angeles County. San Diego County rceived $16.5 billion. Los Angeles and San Diego counties led the nation in military dollars received, with $7.9 billion and $7.4 billion, respectively.