DALLAS — Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is asking state legislators to support a fund to help keep the state's military bases off of a potential closure list.
"Few things have a greater positive economic impact in Arizona communities than our military bases," Brewer said Monday in her state-of-the-state address to the legislature. "Together they contribute more than $9 billion to our economy annually — while safe-guarding our great country."
While a new "Base Realignment and Closure" (BRAC) process has not been announced, U.S. Defense Department officials have warned that continued cost cutting is likely to lead to another round.
Arizona's three military bases survived the 2005 BRAC process after the state took several measures to protect Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix's rapidly growing western suburbs from civilian encroachment.
The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson and Fort Huachuca in southeast Arizona are also vulnerable, though less crowded by civilian development.
Brewer said she would ask the state's Military Affairs Commission to develop a strategic plan for keeping the bases viable.
"We must be ready to protect Arizona military installations if the federal government moves to close or realign more bases," she said. "This year, I am calling on the Legislature to renew support for the Military Installation Fund."
Brewer said the money "will be used specifically to mitigate property encroachment and preserve military land use projects - without throwing that financial burden on private property owners."
Finding additional funds for the military bases may prove difficult, despite a fiscal surplus after years of deficits. Revenues are expected to remain tight after an temporary 1-cent sales tax increase ended in June. That tax was approved for three years to keep the state's basic operations funded.
