Tennessee military department requests infrastructure funds as National Guard highlights storm and security response
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Summary
At a March 3 committee hearing, Adjutant General General Ross and Tennessee Emergency Management Director Sheehan briefed senators on readiness, recent disaster response and a base budget; the Guard asked for an $80 million design/build investment at Smyrna and said state support is critical to keep missions and jobs in Tennessee.
Chairman Briggs opened the State and Local Government Committee on March 3 and recognized General Ross to present the Tennessee Military Department budget.
"Our base budget proposal, 622,276 includes about $3,355,000 of state funds and then a 267,000,000 of federally reimbursed funds," General Ross told the committee as he summarized the department's operating picture and recent activities. He listed emergency responses, medical evacuations and overseas deployments and noted the Tennessee National Guard’s role in the Memphis Safe Task Force.
Ross said the department’s top capital priority is infrastructure tied to relocating missions from Berry Field to Smyrna. He asked the committee for continued state support and a request included with the governor’s budget: an $80,000,000 investment to design and build an Army aviation support facility at Volunteer Training Site Smyrna. "Without a home for relocation and growth, the Department could and would consider moving those missions and the jobs that come with them," Ross said, warning of a potential impact on more than 1,000 jobs and “hundreds of millions in annual economic impact” if missions move out of state.
Director Sheehan of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency briefed senators on recent disaster operations, including response to last month’s winter storm Fern and earlier tornadoes. He described a governor’s proposal for a $100,000,000 governor’s response and recovery fund and two proposed programs for jurisdictional assistance and disaster survivor assistance to allow flexible, state-administered aid after emergencies.
Senators thanked the presenters and asked questions about equipment, armory decommissioning and community impacts. Senator Jackson praised the coordinated response in her districts, and Senator Wally asked for an update on armory closures; Ross said the decommissioning plan covers roughly 18 armories and is about halfway completed.
Chairman Briggs closed the discussion by noting the committee had earlier held a pre‑budget hearing and, after a roll call, the committee approved the military department budget and sent it to the finance committee for further consideration.
The committee did not adopt final appropriations at this hearing; the presentation and votes advance the department’s request to the next stage in the process.