About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

GAO-12-929R 1 (2012-07-23)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacgic0001 and id is 1 raw text is: J GAO Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 July 23, 2012 The Honorable Geoff Davis Chairman Subcommittee on Human Resources Committee on Ways and Means House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: Subject: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: More States Counting Third Party Maintenance of Effort Spending Each year, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant provides $16.5 billion in federal funds to states to assist low-income families. While the block grant provides states with a fixed amount of federal dollars annually, it also includes a requirement that states maintain a significant portion of their own historic financial commitment, called maintenance-of- effort, to welfare-related programs. In fiscal year 2011, states spent a total of $33 billion for TANF-related benefits and services-$18 billion in federal TANF funds and $15 billion in state MOE. This total includes any expenditures made by third parties, such as nonprofit organizations, that states counted toward their MOE requirement. Some concerns have been raised that counting third party nongovernmental expenditures towards a state's MOE may not be in keeping with the intent of MOE requirements directed toward state and local governments. Concerns have also been expressed that this option may reduce the overall level of services available to low-income families in a state if, for example, that state counts services already provided by third parties while reducing its own spending. Consequently this report discusses the (1) extent to which states count third party nongovernmental expenditures toward their states' MOE requirements, (2) types of third party nongovernmental benefits and services provided, and (3) the reasons states cited for counting third party nongovernmental MOE. To obtain this information, we developed a questionnaire and pre-tested it with three state TANF directors.1 We then distributed it by e-mail to TANF directors for all 50 states and the District of Columbia2 and received a 100 percent response rate. Where necessary, we followed up with states to clarify their responses. We also reviewed relevant federal laws and regulations, and spoke with officials from and reviewed relevant 1 In this questionnaire and report, third party nongovernmental MOE expenditures counted toward TANF MOE spending refers to (1) the value of in-kind contributions for allowable costs from nongovernmental third parties (including nonprofit organizations, corporations, or other private parties), or (2) cash donations by nongovernmental third-parties used by the state for a TANF allowable purpose. 2 For the purposes of this report, we include the District of Columbia as a state. GAO-12-929R TANF Third Party Maintenance of Effort

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most