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Tennessee Guard seeks $80 million for Smyrna aviation facility; agencies highlight disaster response and a $100M recovery fund
Summary
Adjutant General General Ross told the State and Local Government Committee that the Tennessee Military Department's base budget and an $80 million capital request to relocate aviation missions to Smyrna are essential to retain missions and jobs; TEMA asked for a $100 million Governor's Response Recovery Fund for flexible disaster aid.
The State and Local Government Committee on March 3 heard the Tennessee Military Department’s budget presentation and a companion briefing from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
Adjutant General General Ross told the committee that the department’s “base budget proposal” and federal reimbursements support the army, air, and emergency management missions. He said the guard provided sustained support during the Memphis Safe Task Force mission and winter‑storm responses and that both the army and air guard report staffing at or above authorized strength. “So our base budget proposal, $622,276,” he said while outlining state and federally reimbursed components.
Ross requested continued support for readiness programs and highlighted a capital request tied to stationing and infrastructure: last year the General Assembly funded land acquisition for an Air Guard move from Berry Field in Nashville to Smyrna; this year the department seeks $80,000,000 to design and build an army aviation support facility at the Volunteer Training Site in Smyrna. Committee members and the chair discussed a broader estimated relocation cost the chair cited at roughly $450,000,000 and noted Berry Field lease expiration in June 2045. Ross said failing to provide a home for relocated missions could risk moving missions and associated jobs out of state.
Director Sheehan of TEMA described recent disaster operations and the governor’s proposed $100,000,000 Governor’s Response Recovery Fund. He said the fund would create two program tracks—jurisdictional assistance for governments and nonprofits and disaster survivor assistance—to allow more tailored aid and faster response in future events.
Committee members praised the agencies’ response to recent storms and asked operational questions, including progress on armory decommissioning (the department said about 18 armories are in scope and the effort is roughly halfway complete). After Q&A the committee voted to advance the Military Department budget to the finance committee.
What’s next: The military and TEMA budgets were advanced to the finance committee for consideration of appropriation language and capital funding in the next budget stage.
