PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island tied with Georgia at No. 33 in a recent WalletHub ranking of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, in which No. 1 represents the state least dependent on federal funding and federal government employment.
The Ocean State receives $1.55 from the federal government for every dollar in federal income taxes Rhode Islanders pay, compared with 50 cents in Delaware and $5.31 in North Dakota. Federal funding accounts for 34.5 percent of Rhode Island’s revenue, and there are 9.8 federal employees per capita in the state.
Rhode Island ranked 34th for return on federal income taxes, 26th for federal funding as a percent of state revenue and 32nd for federal employees per capita.
Ranked at No. 33 overall, Rhode Island was the third most dependent state in New England, ranking higher than Vermont at No. 35 and Maine at No. 46. Connecticut, at No. 5, ranked as the least dependent state in New England, followed by Massachusetts at No. 9 and New Hampshire at No. 11.
Massachusetts receives 94 cents from the federal government for every dollar in federal income taxes paid, and federal funding accounts for 29.6 percent of the state’s total revenue. There are 7.09 federal employees per capita in the Bay State.
Massachusetts ranked 13th for return on federal income taxes, 17th for federal funding as a percent of state revenue and 19th for number of federal employees per capita.
Nationally, Delaware ranked as the least dependent state, followed by Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Connecticut. Mississippi, New Mexico, Alabama, Louisiana, Maine and Montana were identified as the states most dependent on federal funding and employment, with Mississippi and New Mexico tied at No. 50.
In fact, the study found that the average rank for what it defined as blue states was 19.1, versus an average rank for red states of 33.3. In addition, states that were less dependent on the federal government were likely to have a higher GDP per capita than those that were more dependent on federal support.
To view the complete study, visit wallethub.com.
