This year North Dakota received $19.4 million in federal homeland security funds - which works out to about $30.42 for every man, woman and child living in the state. New York received $5.47 for every person who lives in the state, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that's evidence of "pork barrel politics at its worst," when New York clearly has been a popular target for terrorists.

New York state ranks 49th among the 50 states in per capita homeland security funding, and President Bush's 2005 budget would rectify that by changing the formula used to determine how much each state gets, with more emphasis on urban areas. Currently, each state gets 0.75 percent of the total pot of federal funding, plus more based on population. Bush's budget removes that 0.75 percent baseline.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said North Dakota still receives far less money than New York, which he said received $184 million. It's just that North Dakota's money is spread out over such a small population that it tends to make the numbers look large. In addition, Congress gave New York $20 billion to aid in their recovery after Sept. 11, he said.

"That's $1,000 per person," Conrad said. "They're not mentioning that."

Conrad said Bloomberg probably doesn't know North Dakota is home to two "major strategic targets" - the air force bases in Minot (which has 150 Minuteman missiles, potentially nuclear-armed) and Grand Forks (which has more than 30 B-52s and is one of three core tanker bases in the nation).

"These are bases that are major strategic assets of the United States, and they require protection," Conrad said.

Doug Friez, state director of the Division of Emergency Management, said North Dakota doesn't want to take funds away from urban areas but can't afford to have any "soft spots" either - from its long, sparsely populated border to its huge ag industry.

"We have unique situations nationwide," he said.

He said if North Dakota were to give its entire $19.4 million to New York, that would barely make a dent in their budget. Since 1999, North Dakota has received $41.6 million in federal funds to prepare for terrorism. Most of the money is being spent to upgrade communications systems, so that eventually emergency responders statewide will be able to seamlessly talk to each other during crises.

But with Bush's proposal to change the homeland security formula, state officials expect North Dakota's piece of the pie to decrease by up to 30 percent.

"Frankly, I don't think that's fair," Conrad said.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said all states are being shortchanged on homeland security funding, and security isn't just about protecting major cities. It's also about securing borders and protecting dams, chemical plants, nuclear plants and railroads.

"There is an attitude I think by the bigger cities that they are the only parts of the country that need protection," he said. "I think Mayor Bloomberg needs to understand that this is a national issue."

He said if all the attention and resources are thrown at urban areas, terrorists will strike elsewhere.

"Terrorists will always strike at your weakest point," Dorgan said.