GovernmentExecutive.com

Communities need more information and aid to deal with military base realignment, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

The Pentagon and other agencies have provided some funding and other aid, but the issue has not received the "high-level leadership" needed, according to GAO, the Associated Press reported.

For example, Maryland's Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Meade and the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center are among 20 bases nationwide that the Defense Department expects will be seriously affected by realignment.

Traffic congestion, inadequate schools and a shortage of affordable housing are among the top concerns mentioned in the report.

Maryland officials have been pressing the Pentagon for more federal funding to pay for transit and highway improvements to deal with expected congestion around bases slated for growth.

Montgomery County, home to the National Naval Medical Center, has requested $21 million under a defense program that has traditionally been used for road improvements around rural bases. The county is seeking $20 million to build a Metro subway station entrance closer to the hospital, and $1 million to upgrade intersections.

"We're proud that we're going to be home to world's greatest military medical center," said Phil Alperson, Montgomery's Base Realignment and Closure coordinator. "But we hadn't planned for it and don't have resources to address it."

COMMENTS

• My agency is on the BRAC list. We're leaving the great Midwest to move to New Orleans by FY 2011. The agreement is for the state of Louisiana to build "Federal City" on the banks of Algiers. Contractors, construction, and money have become an issue for the project, post-Katrina. Our current facilities is owned by the agency and pays $1.00 (one dollar) per year for the land our facility is built on. The Army will be moving into our building once it is vacant. Military Basic Allowance for Housing increased in New Orleans post-Katrina to an additional $300.00 to $600.00 per month compared to Kansas City’s rate. The federal government refused to increase the civilian locality pay post-Katrina. Why? We have over 300 plus military people leaving this community due to the BRAC, and DoD is in the process of building a new military commissary. Why? As all the previous comments stated, it’s all politically driven. Here are a few statements/arguments from the BRAC report, justifying our move to New Orleans. “New Orleans has difficulty in attracting new businesses, its flat job growth over the past five years, declines in NASA & shipbuilding employment, Finally, if the base closes the Dept of Navy will have a multi-million dollar liability of Public Private Venture (PPV) Housing.” Still can’t figure out where the “saving money” fits into this? Patricia Posted June 30, 2008 10:37 AM
• The BRAC process has been to decide what's best for the politicians, then make up statistics to justify their choices. The truth seldom wins. jim Posted June 26, 2008 10:14 AM
• Let's move DHS to that one desert location -- and then close it too! Potato Man Posted June 23, 2008 4:24 PM