Veterans Affairs Seeks Recurring $10M for Base‑Area Grants; Highlights Stone Pavilion Transition
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Summary
Department of Veterans Affairs leaders told a legislative subcommittee they have operated Stone Pavilion in Columbia for about nine months and are seeking a recurring $10,000,000 military enhancement fund to support readiness and quality‑of‑life grants for municipalities and counties adjacent to active bases.
The Department of Veterans Affairs briefed a legislative subcommittee on its operating needs and a budget proposal to support installations and surrounding communities.
General McCaffrey told the panel the department assumed responsibility for Stone Pavilion in Columbia in January and has operated the facility ‘‘for just under a year’’ while addressing transition costs and ongoing care obligations. He said the homes enterprise has been ‘‘up and running’’ and that the department’s budget request is comparatively limited this year because of available carry‑forward funds.
The department asked the General Assembly for a recurring $10,000,000 appropriation to the military enhancement fund, a program ‘‘developed by the General Assembly’’ that grants monies to municipalities and counties adjacent to active component military bases. According to General McCaffrey, the fund supports two purposes: readiness improvements outside the wire and quality‑of‑life projects for military families living near bases. He noted the legislature previously approved a recurring $2,000,000 allocation for the program.
Committee members questioned why the department would participate in costs tied to electric substations and resilient power. McCaffrey said the intent is not to build routine utility infrastructure but to share costs tied to resilience and mission‑critical power—ensuring base operations remain functional if the grid is interrupted. He pointed to past uses of grant funds, including acquisition of land near Shaw Air Force Base to prevent development encroachment.
The department also summarized a staffing bill affecting county veterans affairs offices. McCaffrey said a measure passed in the House would provide funding to establish a floor of two full‑time employees in each of the state’s 46 county veterans offices; he said that bill is currently pending in the Senate.
The meeting record shows committee members asked for follow‑up detail on the substation proposals and other technical components of the military enhancement grants. General McCaffrey offered to provide additional specifics to the committee as requested.
The subcommittee did not take formal action on the department’s requests at the hearing; presenters were thanked and the panel moved to the next agenda item.
