Florida Department of Military Affairs Facing Nearly 20 Percent Budget Cut

Posted Dec 8, 2011 by Howard Altman

Updated Dec 8, 2011 at 04:10 PM

The Florida Department of Military Affairs is facing a recommended budget cut of nearly 20 percent under Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed FY 2012-2013 budget.

The department received more than $77.5 million last year, according to the department. This year, that figure is slated to go down to just north of $63 million. That represents a cut of 18.35 percent.

The department, with headquarters in St. Augustine, helps to ensure the department and the Florida National Guard
remains ready to support national security objectives, as well as meet the needs of Florida citizens during emergencies.

Despite the cuts, there are still several projects on the books.

According to the department:

*Fixed Capital Request, Readiness Center Repairs - General Revenue: $4,500,000.

Needed repairs to armories in Plant City and Sarasota.

*Explosive Ordnance Disposal Armory at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center: $1,500,000.

Current EOD building in disrepair.

*Armory Support, Increased Energy Costs - General Revenue:  $370,000.

Rising fuel costs and changing environmental conditions have resulted in a significant rise in energy requirements necessary to operate the agency’s armories and facilities.
   
*Integrated Emergency Operations Management Information System - General Revenue:  $25,000.

In Fiscal Year 2005-06, the Legislature funded the creation of a system to support the National Guard when called to state active duty.  This system converts federal computer data into information that can be used by the state’s payroll, purchasing and accounting systems.  The budget recommendation includes funding for hardware and software to extract data from changing federal systems.

*Information Technology Replacement - General Revenue/Trust Fund: $220,030.

Represents the programmed replacement of the department’s current computer hardware and software as prescribed by state standards.  The department relies heavily on information technology equipment to carry out both day-to-day responsibilities and state active duty.

*Cooperative Agreement Manpower Support - Federal Grants Trust Fund: $1,072,475.

Funds 24 additional personnel to execute cooperative agreements signed with the Department of Defense to support the Florida National Guard.  Positions are 100 percent federally funded and represent excellent job opportunities
for Floridians.  The agreements currently fund 228 of the department’s 373 employees.

*Additional Vehicles for Camp Blanding - Federal Grants Trust Fund -$746,000.

Includes a variety of additional federally-funded vehicles to support training ranges at Camp Blanding.  Vehicles are critical to meet the increased deployments both overseas and domestically.

*Additional Equipment to Support Camp Blanding Joint Training Center - Federal Grants Trust Fund:  $331,538.

Provides additional federally-funded equipment to maintain areas surrounding airfields and other facilities within the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center and Youth Challenge program.

*Workers’ Compensation for State Active Duty Soldiers - $238,576.

Provides workers compensation for National Guard members that perform State Active duty during disasters.