C. VFA Program Administration and Monitoring

1. Funding

VFA Appropriations

In the past, the annual appropriations for the VFA Program have been delivered to the Forest Service through the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA). With reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the FmHA became the Rural Development - Rural Housing Service. Effective in FY 1999 funding will no longer pass through the Rural Housing Service to the Forest Service. VFA funding will be allocated directly to the Forest Service.

The VFA Program was funded nationwide at $3,500,000 annually during the period 1991 - 1994. Funding dropped 3 percent in 1995 with $3,400,000 appropriated nationally. For fiscal year 1998, funding is $2,000,000.

VFA Distribution

A formula was originally used to distribute VFA funds, which were allocated to States under the Rural Development Act of 1972. Since passage of the CFAA in 1978 the formula continues to be used by the Forest Service's Washington Office to distribute funding to the Regions and Northeastern Area (NA). The Regions, NA, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestery (IITF) may use the formula if they wish to allocate VFA funding to their States. However, use of the formula is not required. This provides the Forest Service unit, in consultation with their State foresters, more flexibility to allocate VFA Program dollars to States to maximize the program benefits.

Some States use a small portion of their VFA funding for program administration; other States do not. It is desirable that the dollars withheld for this purpose be kept to a minimum in order to maximize the VFA funding available to RFD's and fire training academies. It is suggested that no more than 10 percent of the VFA dollars be used for this purpose.

Grants to Recipients and Subrecipients...