Local News

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1998

Texas makes plan to protect military bases

Statewide effort to avoid closures calls for reducing costs

By ANNA M. TINSLEY
Scripps Howard Austin Bureau

   AUSTIN -- Texas' first military master plan calls for uniting Texans, reducing military costs and attracting defense-related businesses to protect the state's bases from budget cuts and closures.
   The 78-page report released Tuesday is significant because it is the first time that the state has put together a plan to spur joint efforts to protect Texas military bases.
   The report lists the strengths of each Texas military base and calls for a more coordinated approach to positioning the bases during base closure hearings, which could resume as early as 2001.
   The report will be distributed to state officials, Texas lawmakers and communities that have bases.
   "Texas is in an excellent position. But this isn't a game where you rest on your laurels," said Bob O'Donnell, director of the Office of Defense Affairs at the Texas Department of Economic Development. "This is a game where you want to make yourself more attractive -- both for the bases and defense-related businesses."
   

Strategy for bases

   The report's main proposals:

Unite Texans and speak with one voice.
   The plan calls for lawmakers to make the Office of Defense Affairs the state's focal point for coordinating issues and decisions that would affect the military. It also calls for lawmakers to create new committees to address military needs statewide.
   And communities near bases should form a single local organization that can speak on behalf of all communities on defense issues.

Reduce costs for military forces.
   Future viability of Texas' military installations depends on lowering costs to the bases, improving quality of life for military members and enhancing military operations in Texas, according to the report.
   Costs can be cut by methods ranging from letting bases buy utilities as wholesale customers to privatizing jobs from food service to maintenance facilities.
   Quality of life can be improved by increasing salaries and providing affordable housing. And enhancing military operations can be done by creating low-level air routes for simulated bombing training, an amphibious exercise area and an air-to-ground bombing range.

Provide incentives for defense-related businesses in Texas.
   Texas received $7.4 billion in U.S. defense contracts in fiscal year 1997. This put Texas third in the nation, behind California and Virginia.
   But Texas' share of national defense money has shrunk by $1.6 billion from fiscal year 1995 to fiscal year 1997, according to the report.
   "Military bases may close, today's ships, aircraft and tanks may be retired, but research and development for future military systems . . . will remain the most stable portion of the defense budget," according to the report.
   

Closures a possibility

   Gov. George W. Bush said this statewide offensive is a way to help protect Texas' military bases.
   Military bases bring millions of dollars into many Texas communities, including Corpus Christi, Ingleside and Kingsville. The defense community's statewide impact was $37 billion in fiscal year 1997, the most recent records show.
   But a Pentagon report this year said the United States has more bases than needed to support a downsized military despite four rounds of base closures. Since 1988, 97 of the country's 495 major bases have been closed and hundreds of others have been consolidated.
   Two more rounds could come in 2001 and 2003, officials said.
   "That puts bases throughout the U.S. in danger," O'Donnell said. "Which Texas base is going to get closed, if any, I don't know."
   Analysts say other states will push base-closing panels to target Texas because many believe the state hasn't been hit as hard as others in base closings.
   Since the closings began, the state has lost Fort Worth's Carswell Air Force Base, San Antonio's Kelly Air Force Base and Beeville's Naval Air Station Chase Field.
   The report, "The Defense Community in Texas: A Master Plan for the Future," was compiled by O'Donnell from assessments and visits to bases statewide by the Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission.
   

Area bases `in good shape'

   Mayor Loyd Neal, a commission member, said Coastal Bend bases are well positioned to fight base-closure hearings.
   "As far as preparing for base closure, we are in good shape," said Neal, chairman of the South Texas Military Facilities Task Force since 1990. "But we have to be vigilant about changing roles and missions in the military.
   "For instance, Corpus Christi's training naval aviators is in good shape as long as we retain the need for training. And Ingleside's mine warfare is in good shape as long as we keep that mission," he said. "But the loss of any base could hurt all of Texas."
   More than anything, Neal said, it's essential for community and state officials to stay involved in the process.
   "In order to make a difference in what's going to happen to you in the military, you have to be proactive," he said. "This report takes a proactive stance for the military in Texas.
   Officials say the goal of the report, which has drawn attention from other states with military bases, is to help the military understand the value of being in Texas and what the bases mean to Texas.
   Scripps Howard Austin Bureau writer Anna M. Tinsley can be reached at (512) 478-9644 or by e-mail at tinsleya@scripps.com
   

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