By KRWG News
SANTA FE, N.M. – The Census Bureau says New Mexico ranks fifth in the nation in federal spending per person in the state.
Federal expenditures were the equivalent of about $13,670 for each New Mexican in the 2009 fiscal year.
Per capita spending was higher only in Alaska, Virginia, Hawaii and Maryland.
The Consolidated Federal Funds report said more than $27 billion was spent in New Mexico in 2009. That's an increase of 15 percent from 2008 and is partly because of an economic stimulus package.
Procurement contracts represented the largest amount of federal spending in New Mexico. Most of that was by the Energy Department, which has national laboratories in Los Alamos and Albuquerque. Other spending included federal payments to individuals for Social Security benefits.