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Show Federal grant to be allocated; public meetings scheduled ST. GEORGE -Utahns will have the opportunity to tell their legislators just what type of priorities should be set ; ji for the use of ap proximately $35 million of health , and social ' services federal block; ,! grant funding coming to 1 the state for fiscal year I 1983-84.. The third of four state- ; wide public meetings will be Aug. 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Dixie High ; I School, 350 East 700 South. This hearing will ! give individuals a voice J on the use of the block I grant funds in the state 1 . and on the types of ser vices the government should provide. The hearing panel will consist of members of the Joint Legislative Health Study Committee chaired by Sen. Ivan M. Matheson ;(:R-Cedar,ity)L'aiid Rep; ' Ray. S,nchmutz R-St George) and members of the Legislative Social Services Committee chaired by Sen. William N. Jones (R-Alpine) and Rep. Charles L. Doane (R-Salt Lake). Under Public Law 97-35, 97-35, the legislature is required to hold hearings to receive public input on how block grant funds should be spent. This will be the first opportunity for the public to comment on whether the state should receive these funds and how they should be used before tentative budgetary " decisions are made. All interested persons are encouraged to attend and express their thoughts on the funding of block grant programs or submit written comments to the Office of Legislative Research, Room 436 State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114. Block grants allow states to use federal funds for a variety of programs. The block grants to be considered at the hearing were created by Congress in 1981. These grants "block" together several separate or categorical programs into one large grant. Some of the Federal program . rules ' and regulations have been modified or abolished and more administrative flexibility has been given to the states to adjust to local needs and priorities. States now have the responsibility to determine deter-mine how this money should be spent. Public comment at the hearing will help the legislature establish these funding |
