Number: RL32675
Title: Metropolitan Area Designations by OMB: History, Current Definitions, and Uses
Authors: Jennifer D. Williams, Government and Finance Division and James R. Riehl, Information Research Division 
Abstract: Many Members of Congress at times have questions about metropolitan areas,especially when the uniform criteria, or standards, for defining these areas arerevised and constituents ask how the changes might affect the federal fundsdistributed to their jurisdictions on the basis of certain grant program formulas thatuse the definitions. This report presents the history of standard metropolitanarea definitions; notes the December 27, 2000, announcement of the currentstandards for defining these areas and the June 6, 2003, release of lists showing theactual delineations of the areas; gives details about the 2000 standards; and discussesthe difficulty of ascertaining how metropolitan area designations affect federal fundsallocation.
Pages: 10
Date: November 15, 2004