Arkansas National Guard officials asked the state Wednesday to meet its total funding request for 2016 and 2017, especially in light of large cutbacks expected at the federal level.
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Adjutant Gen. William Wofford appeared before the Arkansas Legislative Council's joint budget committee to request an increase in total state funding from $96.5 million in fiscal 2015 to $100.2 million in fiscal 2016.
Though the state fronts that amount, most of the funds are reimbursed by the federal government. If the budget is approved at $100.2 million, the state will receive a reimbursement of about $84.1 million. The federal government also provides other operational and construction funds directly to the Guard.
State funding traditionally accounts for about 2 percent of the Arkansas National Guard's budget, and the remaining 98 percent is funded by the federal government, said National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Matt Snead, adding that the agency's federal dollars would soon take "some pretty significant hits."
Before taking questions, Wofford said the state Military Department will start to feel the effects of the Budget Control Act of 2011, which implements an approximately $487 billion cut to the Department of Defense over the next five years. Because of this, the Army announced in 2013 that it would shrink its active-duty component, as well as its Reserve and National Guard.
Wofford said the state's National Guard would receive only 39 percent of its usual federal funds for training in fiscal 2015.
"I know I'm talking federal budget and we're here to talk state, but I would like you to be aware that it does have an impact," Wofford said. "Those are pretty drastic cuts on the federal side, so anything we can garner from our state budget is certainly going to help."
Included in the agency's request was an additional $251,230 in both 2016 and 2017 to go toward the Civilian Student Training Program, which is funded completely by the state.
Juvenile-justice courts order 13- to 17-year-old boys to the behavioral management program, which lasts nine weeks and is held at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock. The post hosts five cycles of the program each year.
According to the National Guard's annual report, the program had a graduation rate of 90 percent in 2013, and 85 percent of the 320 students have not re-offended since the program's completion.
Wofford said the additional funds would go toward maintaining aging buildings where the program is held, purchasing emergency generators and paying overtime to supervisors, who have to stay with the participants overnight.
The increase would allow the National Guard to enroll the maximum 330 students each year, Wofford said.
The executive recommendation did not include the additional funds for the program; however, the joint committee unanimously voted to flag it to receive priority.
"Your numbers are much more successful than a lot of things we're throwing money at," said Republican Rep. Mark Lowery of Maumelle.
The Military Department also requested an additional $236,870 each year for its Youth Challenge Program, a 22-week course for 16- to 18-year-old, at-risk youth held at Camp Robinson, as well as $10,000 each year for improvements to the Arkansas National Guard Museum.
Metro on 10/23/2014