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Veterans Affairs warns of 2027 cemetery compliance deadline and cites staffing and rising operating costs
Summary
The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs told lawmakers that a projected $600,000 personnel lapse is included in the governor—s budget, that operating costs have risen, and that the department must secure land to expand veterans— burial capacity before federal reimbursement eligibility lapses in 2027.
Commissioner Welch of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs told the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Feb. 13 that the agency faces near-term funding and facility challenges, including a federally mandated ability to provide three burial options by 2027 and rising non-personnel operating costs.
The commissioner said the department serves roughly 146,000 veterans statewide through core missions that include a 125-bed skilled nursing facility on the Rocky Hill campus, a residential program, advocacy and assistance offices, and cemetery and memorial services. The department is undertaking ARPA-funded renovation projects and plans to replace an aging electronic medical record system for the health-care facility.
Staffing and the $600,000 personnel adjustment
Commissioner Welch introduced Mary Grennan, the department—s fiscal manager, who explained the budget includes a $600,000 reduction in personnel services based on historical staffing lags. Grennan said the department is funded for 241 positions; because recruitment and hiring cycles historically prevent the department from remaining fully staffed across an entire fiscal year, the department has typically lapsed about $600,000 in salaries annually.
"We have an approved position count of 241," Grennan said, noting that the reduction reflects turnover and the time required to refill positions.
The department said it currently has about 90 employees on board in the health-care center and an authorized headcount of 241; it hired about 14 people in the last year while 29 left the organization.
Rising operating costs and capital needs
The commissioner said non-personnel costs have increased significantly: food, utilities and medication expenses have risen with round-the-clock operations. Rocky Hill currently rents an older steam boiler at about $30,000 per month while planning to replace it with an energy-efficient unit. The department also reported planning for two large solar installations on the 92-acre Rocky Hill campus.
Cemetery capacity and federal reimbursement
Commissioner Welch told the committee the department must be able to offer three federally required burial options—traditional 4-by-8 in-ground burial, 4-by-4 cremation sites, and columbarium niches—to remain eligible for federal reimbursement. He said the department will be unable to provide required 4-by-4 burial space by 2027 unless new property is procured.
To address the shortfall, the department submitted a request for proposals on Jan. 31 seeking 50 or more acres of buildable property, ideally in eastern Connecticut where the veteran population is denser. The department said it received $3 million in state bonding to support property acquisition and that failure to procure suitable land previously prevented the department from receiving a federal match (a $4 million opportunity tied to a Middletown parcel that did not proceed).
Other programs and results
- Veterans service officers: The department reported having 12 certified veteran service officers who have assisted almost 10,000 clients, generating about $199 million in federal benefits to veterans and families.
- ARPA and housing: The department said it has broken ground on ARPA-funded renovations that will yield roughly 46 short-term housing units for veterans and families.
No formal votes were taken during the presentation. The department said it will continue work on property procurement, energy upgrades and medical record replacement and will provide committee members with additional budget detail on requests and staffing.
Ending
The commissioner thanked the committee for support and asked lawmakers to consider bonding and other capital requests to ensure cemetery compliance, sustained residential and health care services, and energy improvements for the Rocky Hill campus.
