Show Funds available for Welfare through first part of Utah Foundation makes report Utah's welfare department apparently will have sufficient funds to operate through the first six months of the fiscal year without grant or service This was the conclusion reached by the Utah the private governmental research organization in an ex- analysis of welfare de-j The Foundation report notes that the adequacy of welfare funds during the last months of the fiscal year will depend largely upon economic conditions and the effect that recent Federal Social Security and survivors changes will have on public assistance trends in Foundation analysts observe that no accurate forecast of welfare finances can be made at tills time for the second year of the biennium because of the uncertainty surrounding future actions of the U S. Several Federal laws which provided increased welfare funds for Utah year are scheduled to terminate on June but could be Utah's Legislature to the Public Welfare Department for its regular programs during the 63 An additional appropriation of was made to institute a new medical assistance program for aged persons with marginal incomes who are not receiving public Since adjournment of the 1961 Utah there been considerable discussion regarding the adequacy of funds for public welfare in The Utah Foundation report shows that while the welfare appropriation was 20 below the original department budget the Welfare Department estimates of need have been reduced several times during the past These downward adjustments enacted subsequent to the Utah legislative session as well as changes In welfare recipient The Federal amend ments have increased Federal participation in Utah's public assistance thus reducing the amount of state funds Another factor that was not anticipated in previous welfare department estimates of according to the Foundation is the effect that recently enacted Federal old-age and survivors insurance changes will have on public assistance in Preliminary figures Indicate that state welfare payments will be reduced by more than in largely because of these Based on a national estimate by federal the Foundation observes the savings in Utah's public assistance costs resulting from these Social Se-curty changes could amount to as much as per th more than half of the in state matching |