COBI 2015 - Veterans' and Military Affairs

Overview
Issues
Performance
Background
Financials

Sources Uses

FY 2016 Appropriation

The Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs is the agency responsible for 150,000 veterans in Utah. The agency has a three-part mission: 1) Advocate for and honor veterans for their unique contributions; 2) Connect veterans, family members, community groups, service organizations, military installations, support groups, and other stakeholders to each other and external resources; and 3) Grow military missions and associated military installation workloads, consistent with national security.

One of the main functions of the department is to assess veterans, service members and family members' needs and make them aware of benefits and services for which they may be eligible. The department is the Utah repository of military discharge documents verifying military service.

Other functions of the department include:

Coordinating veterans services across the state, ensuring services are available when and where needed
Overseeing operation of four state veterans' nursing homes totaling 417 beds
Operating and managing the Utah Veterans' Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale
Hosting the State Approving Agency responsible for approving and supervising programs in educational institutions and training establishments
Working with military bases and installations in Utah to identify opportunities for support

For more information about these functions, please see the "Background" tab.

Funding History

Funding Issues

Fee Increases - Veterans' and Military Affairs

The federal Department of Veterans' Affairs has set the following changes to burial rates: - Veterans Burial: From $734.00 to $745.00. Estimated quantity: 282. Revenue change: $3,102.00. - Spouse/Dependent Burial: From $734.00 to $745.00. Estimated quantity: 87. Revenue change: $957.00. - Chapel Rental: From $125.00 to $150.00. Estimated quantity: 40. Revenue change: $1,000.00. Total estimated revenue change: $5,059.00.

Veterans Information Systems Enhancements

Request for temporary manpower and technical assistance for a special data mining project on the department's current Veterans Information System. Intention is to go through 150,000+ discharge documents and extract numerous data elements that will enable DVMA to 1) have a much better picture of Utah veterans, 2) identify veterans that may be eligible for specific benefits, and 3) tailor information and marketing to specific veterans. The end result should be that a greater number of veterans will be aware of and helped to secure the benefits they have earned.

Related Publications

Federal Compensation and Benefits for Utah Veterans

Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $22,703,100 from all sources for Veterans' and Military Affairs. This is an 8.6 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $3,034,800 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 20.8 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Honoring Vietnam Vets$0$235,000

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

$0$235,000General Fund, One-time

No Description

Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA)$0$350,000

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

$0$350,000General Fund, One-time

No Description

Veterans Information Systems Enhancements$0$200,000

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

$0$200,000General Fund, One-time

Western Regional Partnership$10,000$0

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

$10,000$0General Fund

Utah is one of five states in the Western Regional Partnership (WRP). The WRP's mission (based on their website) is public policy issues, cooperation, and information exchange associated with defense issues including land use, test and training, and military missions. The WRP has been in existence since 2007. Until now the Department of Defense has paid all costs of the WRP; now DOD is asking each member state to pay $10,000 in dues. This should result in states paying approximately one-third of WRP costs, with the DOD continuing to pay two-thirds. From the website, "WRP develops solutions that support partners and protect natural resources, while promoting sustainability, homeland security and military readiness. In the West, there are significant military assets, infrastructure systems such as energy and transportation, and wildlife ecosystems. Leveraging resources and linking efforts help partners avoid duplication and share best practices. WRP partners benefit from interagency and cross-state collaboration and use of WRP tools."

The following are performance measures tracked within this organization.

Veterans Tracking System

Nursing Home Occupancy

Interments

Statute

The Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs is governed by UCA Title 71-8.

UCA 71-8-2 creates the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs and requires the governor to appoint an executive director from a list of qualified veterans provided by the Veterans' Advisory Council.
UCA 71-8-3 defines the duties of the executive director and defines the executive director's duties to veterans.
UCA 71-8-4 authorizes the Veterans' Advisory Council.
UCA 71-9 defines assistance to veterans and their families.
UCA 71-10 establishes veterans' preferences.

During the 2013 General Session the Legislature enacted House Bill 395, "Veterans' Affairs Amendments". This legislation expanded the scope of the Department of Veterans' Affairs and renamed it the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs.

Through Senate Bill 126 of the 2013 General Session, the department is responsible to coordinate veterans services across the state, ensuring services are available when and where needed, responding to an identified need. The department coordinates with various state agencies, the federal Veterans Administration, local organizations, colleges and universities, veterans' organizations, chambers of commerce, religious institutions, non-profit organizations, and others.

The department oversees operation of four state veterans' nursing homes in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Ivins, and Payson totaling 417 beds. This entails management of a contractual arrangement for the operation of the nursing homes and assuring that all federal and state regulations for the provision of nursing home health care services are met.

The department operates and manages the Utah Veterans' Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale, coordinating burials, arranging services, assisting families in obtaining burial benefits from the United States VA, and all related services that are provided in the normal operation of a cemetery. The cemetery now accommodates nearly 500 funeral arrangements each year.

The department hosts the State Approving Agency (SAA) responsible for approving and supervising programs in educational institutions and training establishments in Utah, which offer education and training to veterans and other eligible persons under provisions of the Veterans Education Assistance Program. These programs must have SAA approval before veterans and other eligible persons may receive educational benefits (GI Bill) from the United States VA. Annual review and re-certification of schools and curriculum is required to be performed by the SAA.

The department has the responsibility, through the military affairs function, to work with the military bases and installations located within Utah and the various military units stationed here to identify opportunities for growth and to demonstrate that the state is supportive of their national defense missions, as appropriate.

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 133

Under terms of Section 63J-1-603(3)(a) Utah Code Annotated, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs in item 2, Chapter 12, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015.

HB0003: Item 133

Under terms of Section 63J-1-603(3)(a) Utah Code Annotated, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs to develop a plan to move the Utah Air National Guard to Hill Air Force Base in item 139, Chapter 282, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to the same purpose as the original appropriation.

SB0002: Item 179

The Legislature intends that the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs be allowed to increase its vehicle fleet by two vehicles for nursing home operations if funding for the vehicles comes from nursing home per diem payments.

Display By:

Line Item

Funding Source

Expenditure Category

Appropriation Type:

Appropriation History by

Line Items	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Veterans' and Military Affairs	1,331,500	5,284,900	2,538,400	2,616,900	3,178,600	(36,500)	3,142,100	825,700	3,967,800
Total	$1,331,500	$5,284,900	$2,538,400	$2,616,900	$3,178,600	($36,500)	$3,142,100	$825,700	$3,967,800

Sources of Finance	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
General Fund	841,400	835,600	1,250,400	1,517,300	2,205,200	0	2,205,200	36,900	2,242,100
General Fund, One-time	100,000	220,000	1,100,000	37,900	307,600	0	307,600	485,100	792,700
Federal Funds	187,500	3,791,300	1,050,600	407,300	471,000	31,400	502,400	27,200	529,600
Dedicated Credits Revenue	202,600	461,300	239,600	222,100	195,000	13,000	208,000	12,300	220,300
Transfers	0	0	(600,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Beginning Nonlapsing	5,900	5,900	29,200	531,400	197,000	(97,900)	99,100	84,000	183,100
Closing Nonlapsing	(5,900)	(29,200)	(531,400)	(99,100)	(197,200)	14,100	(183,100)	183,100	0
Lapsing Balance	0	0	0	0	0	2,900	2,900	(2,900)	0
Total	$1,331,500	$5,284,900	$2,538,400	$2,616,900	$3,178,600	($36,500)	$3,142,100	$825,700	$3,967,800

Categories of Expenditure	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Personnel Services	1,043,000	1,030,700	1,203,300	1,678,800	1,418,100	40,400	1,458,500	28,500	1,487,000
In-state Travel	10,900	13,100	24,000	11,400	34,200	(4,500)	29,700	500	30,200
Out-of-state Travel	18,400	14,700	10,200	20,600	17,600	5,600	23,200	(2,600)	20,600
Current Expense	150,800	120,900	460,400	568,500	788,200	(349,300)	438,900	446,200	885,100
DP Current Expense	25,000	94,300	148,800	113,900	146,500	(49,600)	96,900	11,600	108,500
Capital Outlay	0	0	0	63,400	0	72,700	72,700	(9,700)	63,000
Other Charges/Pass Thru	119,900	4,011,200	691,700	160,300	774,000	248,200	1,022,200	351,200	1,373,400
Transfers	(36,500)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	$1,331,500	$5,284,900	$2,538,400	$2,616,900	$3,178,600	($36,500)	$3,142,100	$825,700	$3,967,800

Other Indicators	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Budgeted FTE	12	12	14	17.30	20.30	(0.50)	19.80	0.50	20.30
Actual FTE	14.43	14.80	15.70	16.09	0	0	0	0	0
Vehicles	8	8	8	4	5	(1)	4	1	5

Line Items	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Veterans' Nursing Home Fund	0	0	27,577,200	14,879,400	15,986,900	1,771,300	17,758,200	977,100	18,735,300
Total	$0	$0	$27,577,200	$14,879,400	$15,986,900	$1,771,300	$17,758,200	$977,100	$18,735,300

Sources of Finance	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Federal Funds	0	0	26,942,200	14,382,300	15,986,900	1,794,700	17,781,600	1,022,600	18,804,200
Dedicated Credits Revenue	0	0	862,200	128,700	0	40,000	40,000	0	40,000
Interest Income	0	0	0	8,600	0	10,000	10,000	0	10,000
GFR - Veterans Nursing Home Reimbursemen	0	0	0	105,000	0	0	0	0	0
Beginning Fund Balance	0	0	3,693,300	3,920,500	3,400,000	265,700	3,665,700	73,400	3,739,100
Ending Fund Balance	0	0	(3,920,500)	(3,665,700)	(3,400,000)	(339,100)	(3,739,100)	(118,900)	(3,858,000)
Total	$0	$0	$27,577,200	$14,879,400	$15,986,900	$1,771,300	$17,758,200	$977,100	$18,735,300

Categories of Expenditure	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Personnel Services	0	0	175,700	(27,500)	584,200	71,700	655,900	19,500	675,400
In-state Travel	0	0	3,800	15,400	500	14,500	15,000	0	15,000
Out-of-state Travel	0	0	1,400	3,100	300	4,200	4,500	0	4,500
Current Expense	0	0	7,378,300	13,719,300	14,400	16,959,900	16,974,300	948,700	17,923,000
DP Current Expense	0	0	23,600	7,900	0	8,000	8,000	9,400	17,400
Capital Outlay	0	0	13,500	76,300	0	100,000	100,000	0	100,000
Other Charges/Pass Thru	0	0	19,980,900	827,100	15,387,500	(15,387,000)	500	(500)	0
Transfers	0	0	0	257,800	0	0	0	0	0
Total	$0	$0	$27,577,200	$14,879,400	$15,986,900	$1,771,300	$17,758,200	$977,100	$18,735,300

Show Table | Show Additional Information

Other Indicators	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Budgeted FTE	0	0	5	0	5	0	5
Actual FTE	2	4	0	0	0	0	0
Vehicles	0	6	2	4	6	(4)	2

COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.