Gov. Janet Napolitano last week toured Arizona military bases and met with citizens of surrounding towns in hopes of drumming up support for her plan to keep the installations off the closure list in 2005. But what she got in Tucson, home of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, were complaints about noise.
That is bad news for preservation of the base because noise complaints are major factors in landing bases on the closure list. In general, civilian encroachment that could shut down approaches of bomb-laden jets to military bases represents the biggest risk to a base's viability. Noise complaints are an extension of that problem.
In Tucson, Napolitano sought out public opinion on more than two dozen proposals to save Arizona's bases from a task force she appointed in June.
Closures create a major economic impact and in Arizona bases provide more than 83,000 jobs and add $5.6 billion to the state's economy.
Napolitano's plans include creation of a military installation fund to compensate landowners affected by military operations. The fund would get $1 million from all taxpayers in 2005, and another $3.5 million a year or more by diverting a percentage of all state income taxes paid by military personnel and retirees.
Other recommendations would require the state to approve zoning changes near bases and set up a better notification system for people who buy or rent property under military flight routes.
Napolitano also visited Sierra Vista, home of the Fort Huachuca Army Post, and held similar public forums in Yuma and Phoenix.
