FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 ANALYSIS OF THE NEW JERSEY BUDGET DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS Prepared by the NNewew JerseyJersey LLegislatureegislature OOfficeffice ooff LLEGISLATIVEEGISLATIVE SERVICESSERVICES April 2021 NNEWEW JJERSEYERSEY SSTATETATE LLEGISLATUREEGISLATURE SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE Paul A. Sarlo (D), 36th District (Parts of Bergen and Passaic), Chair Sandra B. Cunningham (D), 31st District (Part of Hudson), Vice-Chair Dawn Marie Addiego (D), 8th District (Parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden) Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D), 5th District (Parts of Camden and Gloucester) Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D), 18th District (Part of Middlesex) Linda R. Greenstein (D), 14th District (Parts of Mercer and Middlesex) Declan J. O’Scanlon, Jr. (R), 13th District (Part of Monmouth) Steven V. Oroho (R), 24th District (All of Sussex, and parts of Morris and Warren) M. Teresa Ruiz (D), 29th District (Part of Essex) Troy Singleton (D), 7th District (Part of Burlington) Michael L. Testa, Jr. (R), 1st District (All of Cape May, parts of Atlantic and Cumberland) Samuel D. Thompson (R), 12th District (Parts of Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean) GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE Eliana Pintor Marin (D), 29th District (Part of Essex), Chair John J. Burzichelli (D), 3rd District (All of Salem, parts of Cumberland and Gloucester), Vice-Chair Daniel R. Benson (D), 14th District (Parts of Mercer and Middlesex) Robert D. Clifton (R), 12th District (Parts of Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean) Serena DiMaso (R), 13th District (Part of Monmouth) Gordon M. Johnson (D), 37th District (Part of Bergen) John F. McKeon (D), 27th District (Parts of Essex and Morris) Nancy F. Muñoz (R), 21st District (Parts of Morris, Somerset and Union) Carol A. Murphy (D), 7th District (Part of Burlington) Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D), 15th District (Parts of Hunterdon and Mercer) William W. Spearman (D), 5th District (Parts of Camden and Gloucester) Benjie E. Wimberly (D), 35th District (Parts of Bergen and Passaic) Harold J. “Hal” Wirths (R), 24th District (All of Sussex, and parts of Morris and Warren) OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES Thomas Koenig, Legislative Budget and Finance Offi cer Vacant, Assistant Legislative Budget and Finance Offi cer Marvin W. Jiggetts, Director, Central Staff Aggie Szilagyi, Section Chief, State Government Section This report was prepared by the State Government Section of the Offi ce of Legislative Services under the direction of the Legislative Budget and Finance Offi cer. The primary author was Kimberly Clemmensen. Questions or comments may be directed to the OLS State Government Section (Tel: 609-847-3890) or the Legislative Budget and Finance Offi ce (Tel: 609-847-3105). DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS C-6, C-14, C-22, C-26, C-28 Budget Pages....... D-279 to D-291 The data presented in this Office of Legislative Services Budget Analysis reflect 12-month fiscal years beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the subsequent year. Fiscal Summary ($000) Adjusted Percentage Expended Appropriation Recommended Change FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 2021-22 State Budgeted $88,486 $97,729 $99,504 1.8% Federal Funds 71,400 100,858 110,136 9.2% Other 1,197 5,183 5,728 10.5% Grand Total $161,083 $203,770 $215,368 5.7% Personnel Summary - Positions By Funding Source Percentage Actual Revised Funded Change FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 2021-22 State 1,272 1,268 1,399 10.3% Federal 163 164 165 0.6% Other 0 0 0 -- Total Positions 1,435 1,432 1,564 9.2% FY 2020 (as of December) and revised FY 2021 (as of January) personnel data reflect actual payroll counts. FY 2022 data reflect the number of positions funded. Link to Website: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/finance.asp Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2021-2022 Highlights The data presented in this Office of Legislative Services Budget Analysis reflect 12-month fiscal years beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the subsequent year. Overview The Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, under the direction of the Adjutant General of New Jersey, is responsible for supporting the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard, administering programs and services for the 362,1521 veterans living in New Jersey, and managing and operating three veterans’ memorial homes: Menlo Park Veterans’ Memorial Home, Paramus Veterans’ Memorial Home, and Vineland Veterans’ Memorial Home. The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget recommends $215.4 million, in total funding for the operation and support of the department, an overall increase of 5.7 percent. This total consists of $99.5 million in State funds; $110.1 million in federal funds; and $5.7 million in other funds. Compared to FY 2021, State funds increase by $1.8 million (1.8 percent). Federal funds increase by $9.3 million, or 9.2 percent, and other funds increase by $545,000, or 10.5 percent. Military Services The Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, Military Services, is responsible for the support and coordination of Army and Air National Guard activities in New Jersey. The National Guard responds to emergencies within the State upon the declaration of a State emergency by the Governor. The department’s federal military responsibility is to provide trained and qualified individuals and troop units in the support of the Army and Air Force of the United States. The department estimates that as of June 30, 2021, the Army and Air National Guard will be at 100 percent and 110 percent, respectively, of their authorized strength. It further projects that the Army National Guard will increase its authorized strength to 101 percent and that the Air National Guard will decrease its authorized strength to 104 percent in FY 2022. • FY 2022 State appropriations are recommended to increase by $750,000, or 8.2 percent to $9.8 million, due to the restoration of funding for the New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe program and an increase in funding to pay for the State’s share of joint federal-State operations and maintenance contracts. Federal funds of about $84.5 million are projected to continue federal support for the New Jersey National Guard ($71.3 million) and $13.2 million to fund continuing construction of the Sea Girt Energy Grid Update project. Services to Veterans The Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs is responsible for the support and coordination of various services to military veterans in New Jersey including Outreach and Assistance, Veterans’ Haven, Burial Services, and the three Veterans’ Memorial Homes. The department operates 16 veteran service offices throughout the State. These offices assist veterans and their dependents secure State and federal benefits. Evaluation data indicates that the department will 1 Source: National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (2018). 2 Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2021-2022 Highlights (Cont’d) serve an estimated 129,000 veterans in FY 2022; provide 25,000 veterans’ transportation trips; provide 14,500 post-traumatic stress disorder counseling sessions; house 120 homeless veterans; and perform 3,150 interments. Veterans’ Program Support • The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget recommends $11.1 million in State appropriations for veterans’ support programs including, but not limited to, Veterans’ Outreach and Assistance ($4.0 million); Veterans’ Haven ($2.5 million); Burial Services ($2.2 million); and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ($1.3 million). This maintains the FY 2021 funding level in total and as allocated for each specific program. • The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget recommends an increase of $6.7 million in federal funding including a FY 2022 $460,000 federal funding grant for maintenance and upkeep costs to be allocated between the Fairmont Cemetery in Newark and the Arlington Cemetery in Kearney and $6.2 million for Administration and Support Services: $3 million is anticipated to be allocated to replace the HVAC system and the roof at Veterans’ Haven North; $2.9 million Is anticipated to be allocated to fix a boiler at Veterans’ Haven South; and $300,000 is anticipated to be allocated for resident support services between both of the homes. Veterans’ Memorial Homes The department owns and operates three veterans’ memorial homes that provide long-term care, medical care, and nursing services to eligible veterans of all wars living in New Jersey who served on active duty and were honorably discharged. The veterans’ memorial homes are located in Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland. The homes are inspected and licensed annually by the New Jersey Department of Health and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. • The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget recommends funding of $92.2 million to support an average of 948 resident veterans in the budget year, an increase of $3.7 million: $1.0 million in State appropriations to support 78 direct care full-time equivalent positions at the homes and $2.8 million in federal funds. The increase in federal funding represents an increase of $2.5 million to Menlo Park for increased Medicare Part A receipts and renovation of the Menlo Park HVAC system. In addition, $89,000 in federal funds will be allocated to each home for beautification of the grounds. • The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget discontinues language which permits funds received from the sale of articles made in the occupational therapy department at Vineland Veterans’ Memorial Home to be used to purchase additional material and to pay for other related program expenses. Background Paper: New Jersey National Guard Response to COVID-19 ……………………………….………………