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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced it will be getting $8.27 million in grants this year, which is down from $20 million last year and $27 million two years ago.
"Some of the projects that we anticipated doing, we'll have to put those off," Derek Jensen, spokesman for the state Public Safety Department's Homeland Security Division, told The Salt Lake Tribune.
The federal department used a new formula for distributing grants this year, one that sends more of the money to states consider more prone to terrorist attacks. Those states have large metropolitan areas or critical facilities.
Officials had anticipated the cut in light of the new formula, and Jensen downplayed worries that public safety would be harmed.
"I don't think we'll have an immediate impact where something gets cut that's vital to homeland security," he said.
Federal authorities are now shipping more dollars to states they say are more prone to terrorist attacks, such as those with large metropolitan areas or critical facilities.
California received the most funds, at about $232 million, with New York second at nearly $184 million.
Utah ranked 45th of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the amount of money received.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said the changes "shortchanged Utah."
"Washington's already biased enough against us -- the bureaucrats just don't understand the national security infrastructure needs we have in our state," Hatch said.
Members of the 9-11 Commission, which recommended targeting funds to critical areas, had argued last year that it was scandalous that terrorism preparedness money was being used like pork-barrel funds to boost politicians' standing back home.
Utah officials plan to give 80 percent of the federal funds to local governments; 20 percent will go toward state efforts.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
