Under Iowa’s new six-region allocation plan for emergency management funding, Story County will receive significantly less funding through the 2005 Homeland Security Grant Program.

Story County received approximately $280,000 total in homeland security funding in 2003 and $260,600 in 2004, said John Ross, Story County assistant emergency management coordinator. This year, Ross said, Story County — which is part of Region 1, consisting of 16 counties in Iowa — will receive approximately $60,000 of the $1.8 million total regional funds.

“[The new figure] seems very low,” Ross said.

“For 2005, the federal Department of Homeland Security has refocused on more urban populations, border, coastal and port areas, as well.”

Ross said the county has about $70,000 of additional funding still available because the Office for Domestic Preparedness granted a five-month extension for 2003 funds, a program that was scheduled to end this month.

“I can’t say it’s beneficial for Iowa because it cuts our spending, but at the same time, I have to trust those in charge. In a way, maybe [the lack of funding] shows we’re prepared for any risk,” he said.

Lori Morrissey, Story County emergency management coordinator, said the decision to regionalize is both good and bad for the state.

Prior to 2005, counties received homeland security funds directly and independently of one another, which can account for the significant drop of future funding, Morrissey said.

“Regionalization is not a bad thing, but it does mean less money for agencies like the fire department, ISU Police and emergency medical services,” she said.

At the same time, it also avoids duplication of services and standardizes all counties’ communication procedures and equipment, Morrissey said. This is an important factor when several multi-level agencies need to coordinate with one another during a crisis situation.

The decrease in available funding to Story County can also be attributed to the amount allocated to the state of Iowa.

Lucinda Parker, public affairs manager for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said Iowa has received a significant decrease in funding overall. In 2004, the state received $32 million in homeland security funding, and in 2005, Iowa received $22 million.

Parker said the difference in funding is determined at the federal level.

“There are some movements in Congress pushing for larger cities, those determined to be at a higher risk, to receive more funding. Other [congressmen] are pushing for all states to be equally prepared,” she said.

Parker said because decisions are being made at a regional level, she could not say how individual counties are being affected by the new regional breakdown versus the old, county-by-county funding program.

Morrissey said county representatives must negotiate regionally rather than locally when determining which projects might receive funding.

For example, smaller agencies like the Nevada Fire Department, which responded to more than 400 calls last year, will be required to get specific training and update its response policies and procedures. The regional support is beneficial because by meeting those eligibility requirements, smaller counties qualify for additional federal grants, she said.

Tracey Epps, public affairs liaison for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said the 2005 grant is a reimbursement grant. Each region will have its own budget based on the eligible projects it has applied for, make purchases and then submit an invoice to the Iowa office for reimbursement.

Epps said regions have submitted draft projects but does not expect the grant money to be available until mid-May, as the state is still in the application process with the Office for Domestic Preparedness and negotiating with region representatives.

Morrissey said mayors and county officials will be attending training at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Justice Center, 1315 South B Ave., in Nevada, as part of the county’s emergency management quarterly meeting.