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Veterans Services requests $15.25M; launches statewide coordination platform April 26
Summary
Brig. Gen. Michael Scholes presented the Department of Veterans Services' $15,250,000 budget request, highlighted cemetery modernization funded largely by federal grants, and said a Veteran Coordination Platform (VCP) will launch April 26 to better link county offices, veteran‑service organizations and community providers.
Brigadier General Michael Scholes presented the Department of Veterans Services budget request and program updates, saying the agency is pursuing a $15,250,000 request for fiscal 2027 that reflects efficiency gains and zero cost increases. He reported $55,000,000 in recent capital investment for cemetery projects (about 90% federal funding) and said every state veteran cemetery has been modernized to ensure long‑term capacity.
Scholes highlighted claims and appeals outcomes including an $88–90 million range in retroactive benefits secured since FY 2021 and cited an 88% appeal success rate. He told the committee the Veteran Coordination Platform (VCP) will launch April 26 to connect county veteran service officers, veteran‑service organizations and community providers via a shared system to reduce duplication and improve referrals.
Committee members asked about county‑level coverage (Scholes said there are 148 accredited county veteran service officers), the Upper Cumberland cemetery project (about 30% design complete and expected to break ground this year), and outreach metrics for underserved regions; Scholes cited increased outreach activity and a set of KPIs tied to social media and marketing campaigns.
