[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6375553,"mediaKeyId","2141183-111779f8e69b8087ed80c4452eb50e33","parentId",2141183,"title","Veterans Affairs seeks $6M start-up for Tradition home, $375K to repair Gulf War memorial; cites procurement and staffing costs","audioSeconds",1575,"startMs",8913000,"endMs",10488000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141183-111779f8e69b8087ed80c4452eb50e33&start=8913&end=10488","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141183-111779f8e69b8087ed80c4452eb50e33/thumbnail_8913000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6375553/Mississippi/Veterans-Affairs-seeks-6M-start-up-for-Tradition-home-375K-to-repair-Gulf-War-memorial-cites-procurement-and-staffing-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375553-5b0bff0eadee4d322d10bae0ecfdf159/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179454&Signature=CJAp~Pa4cYvnJ~-Xv4xBfIpsgWskJqYP0IM2glMun-MxF4VKVruXXzJik9EiAFRFDuNlytmLmOrGoUaO2JNpuauaaunj9kw2d1avsiUdUztS5ZmQ9oxIHMPIVyUyTfZ5d4UXLp0~K0Igrput7T30ecKhun4Ym~lZigPGItcn7xEJRuTzGXRihOXIUh9MHBqJ8r8A8zJa9f9UVPSO7JxY5m0L41JDF7MXrGoK1RV8uNAMqS5-KeDVOi76qw5f6w2l57XZcX0~yPbt-rAkUBNQAtTsByUKYpChWZ7EwhiBnKQOyimNOO2cM755CLIGF10RVei8TCDtUYxCUxcUKWUcBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mississippi Legislature","date","2025-01-16T00:00:00Z","article","The director of Mississippi Veterans Affairs, accompanied by senior staff, told the Appropriations Subcommittee the department is requesting level funding for its FY2026 operations with three specific asks: $6,000,000 to start up the Tradition veterans home if the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) certification survey is completed; $375,000 in one‑time capital-expense funds to repair a Gulf War Memorial in Newton County; and notification that an outstanding Affordable Care Act (ACA) penalty is under negotiation with the attorney general’s office and outside counsel.

Tradition home start-up: The department said it awaits a VA certification survey (expected late May or early June) and that per‑diem reimbursement from the VA will begin only after the VA completes its survey and accepts the facility. The director said the department needs start‑up cash because the VA survey schedule may not align with payroll and commodity needs: \"We probably won't use all that money. But just in case we need that money to get going before the VA finishes all their paperwork to get the certification done is the reason we're asking for that.\" Staff noted VA survey rules are in flux and that the VA is considering changes to how initial certification tags (deficiencies) are handled.

Gulf War Memorial: Department staff presented an engineering estimate of $375,000 to remove and replace a weather‑damaged memorial at the Newton cemetery and said the memorial requires reconstruction so freeze‑thaw cycles and water intrusion do not continue to degrade the monument.

Procurement and vehicles: The agency raised a procurement issue: it said nonprofit donors can buy ADA‑accessible vans for roughly $69,000 each, while the state's reverse‑auction procurement returned prices of about $119,000 for the same vehicles. The director asked the committee to consider options to allow more efficient, lower‑cost purchases for vehicles and other capital equipment; committee members indicated they would pursue policy or procurement clarifications.

Other capital and operations: The department summarized ongoing construction and maintenance work at veterans homes: ongoing work at Tradition (substantial completion being determined), roofing and HVAC replacements at Oxford and Kosciusko, replacements of nurse call systems and fire panels, and vehicle and infrastructure maintenance. The department said prior appropriations left it shovel‑ready for a new Jackson home if federal construction money becomes available and noted last year it ranked just outside the funded federal projects list.

ACA penalty and staffing costs: The department said the ACA‑related IRS penalty had been reduced from a higher figure to about $740,000 through work with the attorney general’s office and outside counsel; staff said the department may request reimbursement through the legislature if the IRS assessment is finalized. The department also flagged ongoing higher costs for contract nursing and continued pressure on wages and benefits; staff noted wound‑care training, vaccine costs and contracting for temporary nursing all raised operating costs.

No formal vote was taken during the presentation; the department requested the listed sums and outlined next steps if VA certification and federal actions move forward.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations - Room 216, 16 January, 2025; 8:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Mississippi Veterans Affairs requested $6 million to begin operations at the Tradition veterans home pending VA certification, a $375,000 capital repair for the Gulf War Memorial and raised concerns about reverse-auction procurement that produced much higher vehicle prices than charitable purchases.","taxTitle","Appropriations, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Mississippi","taxId",29323,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375557,"Mississippi National Guard seeks recruitment incentives, armory repairs in $22M budget ask",758,7257000,8015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141183-111779f8e69b8087ed80c4452eb50e33&start=7257&end=8015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141183-111779f8e69b8087ed80c4452eb50e33/thumbnail_7257000.jpg","/articles/6375557/Mississippi/Mississippi-National-Guard-seeks-recruitment-incentives-armory-repairs-in-22M-budget-ask","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375557-0218cd321403e43baa41da2c401bcd6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179454&Signature=Lq8nDlmdZVhdtaTbelmvyVh0o0~4XEYJHHk7YbXM~WFMSoZ1Qx-tNZh2qIeGjqzVlZPbyvI5LWCnSvw~KaM8VxNBjiqME1HwolCf8U0LBa2cfIt6hzO7imaMOvJc9OXJFh3CGaE828x~nyJSNVS15Pvb-MJUWLSS919jEocVBqkjbIwPCwC~JJZIRqtG3NhiZZ2~q0HlCHHMB80JnRrVWl9SkebygCsTym~a0YNWLJp7paKb0LK8Br69W--4t8ovi9gt1xJTFeLix-kSJYm~3BLuayYbJXQvgenMGVd66nzbz6uPPA~tnbmAVhf81TE7TeTbMHhE4ooRfiXjvzHaDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","General Ginn, speaking for the Mississippi Military Department, told the Appropriations Subcommittee the department's general-purpose state budget request totals roughly $10.3 million for operations and that the department's full package (including other lines and requests) would bring the total to roughly $22.1 million in state asks. Ginn described the department's federal funding for 2025 at roughly $636 million.

Ginn detailed several line items the department requested in the state budget: a support line of about $7.1 million, $2.4 million for the Youth Challenge Program, $775,000 for the Armed Forces Museum, $6 million for maintenance and repair of readiness centers (armories), and $500,000 suggested for a state active duty fund intended to let the department pre-position equipment and supplies ahead of catastrophic events.

Ginn said federal funds will cover most of the rebuilding cost for the Amory armory destroyed by a tornado; the department is asking for $6,000,000 in state funds to complete the $24,000,000 project because it has about $18,000,000 secured from federal sources.

Recruiting and retention: the department proposed a three-part incentive package labeled the \"Strong Act,\" which Ginn and department staff said is intended to reduce a current shortfall of about 2,000 Guardsmen. Components described in the hearing included provision of TRICARE Reserve Select coverage for Guardsmen who need it; a $500 state car tag credit for all Guardsmen; and raising the state income tax exclusion for Guardsmen from $15,000 to $25,000. Ginn said the department had run cost estimates during the hearing: he stated the annual cost to provide health coverage would be about $14,300,000 (approximate), a car-tag program would be about $5,300,000 and the tax exclusion change about $1,700,000. The department described the combined incentive package figure in testimony as about $16,100,000; committee members and staff asked clarifying questions about the math and scope during the hearing.

Ginn said the department sees the TRICARE subsidy as the single most effective recruiting and retention lever: \"Subsidizing that. That's ... Without a doubt,\" he said in response to a committee question about which piece would \"move the needle.\" (Representative Bubba Carpenter, who later identified himself as the Strong Act sponsor, attended the hearing.)

Other items: Ginn reiterated the department's request for $5,000,000 this year to finish improvements at the Youth Challenge Academy at Camp Shelby (the department said prior appropriations covered roughly half the needed upgrades), and he reviewed the armory construction schedule for projects already funded (Southaven/DeSoto ground-breaking targeted for March; other add‑on projects expected later in the year).

Ginn warned that sustained shortfalls could jeopardize force structure and local jobs: he said some units — including M1 tank crews—are currently understaffed because of personnel shortages, and losing force structure would mean moving equipment and associated state jobs elsewhere.

No formal votes were recorded during this presentation; the department presented budget lines and legislative incentive proposals for committee consideration.

","The Mississippi Military Department presented a budget request that includes funding for armory maintenance, a youth challenge facility, a state active duty reserve, and proposed recruitment and retention incentives—the \"Strong Act\"—centered on TRICARE coverage, a car tag credit and an expanded state tax exclusion.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375562,"ITS asks Legislature for staff and procurement overhaul, outlines five IT initiatives",824,33000,857000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141183-111779f8e69b8087ed80c4452eb50e33&start=33&end=857","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141183-111779f8e69b8087ed80c4452eb50e33/thumbnail_33000.jpg","/articles/6375562/Mississippi/ITS-asks-Legislature-for-staff-and-procurement-overhaul-outlines-five-IT-initiatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375562-05c71ec23bd55eb8a373f8d2459e8464/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179454&Signature=dBRSChjmACo4InLNCLz1w5UXJpVVYLbr6Y2tl4P4-USPeZWUJyKSuqLtg21Wr3M143VGEMz8Tg8GWiM2c1LtY92RV6cRIDVX7czJyRAvDl3JkcNQo3bfsXQdlBrF1KaEcOkfrGJ80mtSkp8rL2L0-WpycuxPiA1aUIkzHYa8YraYfqZhyCXrEAf0UcGaYx2YOHgn0sxvm~3cwonUQQxO0YDGLb7cDW5uv4VQdanBk8jVtRkWv-dx2vyNTSy79UW6j1Qtznjxt7H5htJD5ALGOtnZpvBct1rgzkoV1bny14V28V2JEQJRZ1daUXW72YDRo-wN5wMU1ukjrQwzSQwpOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Ojeran, an Information Technology Services (ITS) official, told the Appropriations Subcommittee that ITS is asking for roughly a 12% increase in salaries and FTEs, 19 new positions and a roughly 10% increase in contractual services to support five strategic initiatives: procurement modernization, artificial intelligence governance and innovation, a cloud center of excellence, expanded digital services and creation of an innovation fund.

The request is tied to what ITS presented as rapid growth in agency technology spending: \"Spending on technology in government through dollars that are appropriated by the legislature is up 22 to 30% over 3 to 5 years,\" Ojeran said, and ITS needs additional capacity to help agencies procure and run shared technology.

Why it matters: ITS runs centralized services used across state government (the statewide network, a Tier 3 data center and enterprise cybersecurity) and positions itself as a shared-services provider. ITS argued additional staff and contractual authority are needed so it can vet procurements, support cloud migrations, manage AI adoption, and produce repeatable, shared solutions for agencies.

On procurement, ITS said it launched a Procurement Modernization Advisory Council and held its first meeting Dec. 19 with the top 30 state agencies. The council is expected to produce a two- to three-year modernization roadmap; ITS said it will complete the roadmap within six months and hold monthly meetings (fourth Thursday) with agencies to refine and implement changes. ITS staff framed procurement reform as people, process and technology work: roughly 25% of the new pins would be dedicated to procurement work, ITS told the committee.

ITS also outlined an artificial intelligence agenda after the governor issued an executive order directing state AI work. The agency said it has stood up an AI Innovation Hub in partnership with Amazon Web Services and the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (a partnership described in the hearing as involving Mississippi State University and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College). ITS staff said they are developing an AI inventory and guidance for agencies; Stephanie Hedgepeth, an ITS team member, described an internal group called \"AI Mississippi\" that is drafting the inventory and ethical guidance and expects to administer a survey to agencies.

Cloud adoption and a cloud center of excellence are the third initiative ITS described. Ojeran told the committee ITS now has access to Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Cloud and said it is working to add Google Cloud, so ITS can support multi‑cloud agency solutions. ITS described a cloud framework document and said agencies and ITS will assess cloud readiness case by case.

The fourth initiative is digital services. ITS noted the statewide portal mississippi.gov hosts about 425 services and was ranked fourth in the country in a recent ranking. ITS said it intends to expand the digital services team and double down on shared citizen-facing services.

The fifth initiative is creation of a small innovation fund. ITS proposed setting aside a modest fee assessed on certain procurement vehicles (a practice ITS said other states use) so ITS would have an on-hand fund to pilot AI, cloud and digital services projects that could then scale across agencies.

On workforce, ITS said it is working with the State Personnel Board on job reclassifications and compensation banding (the hearing referenced a multi‑year plan to move ITS positions toward zone 2 midpoints). ITS staff said about 73% of current ITS employees are below the target midpoint and that the requested progression dollars are part of a four-year plan to improve pay and retention.

ITS provided dollar-level details: ITS staff said the salary line includes roughly $3,000,000 to cover 19 new positions and progression dollars and that contractual requests total about $2,700,000. Committee members pressed for implementation timelines and cautioned about agencies seeking exemptions to perform their own procurements; ITS said the advisory council is designed to include agency leaders so changes will be collaborative.

ITS told the subcommittee it will brief the legislature and agencies quarterly on procurement modernization and that some procurement improvements will be implemented before the two‑year roadmap completes (for example, extending express procurement lists and creating new cloud procurement vehicles).

The hearing recorded no formal committee vote on the ITS budget request; ITS presented its FY2026 budget ask and drew questions from committee members.

Looking ahead: ITS said monthly council meetings will continue through June–July, and it will present the modernization roadmap to legislators and agencies when complete. ITS also said it will continue to stand up multi‑cloud access and will support agency cloud migrations through the proposed cloud center of excellence.

","Mississippi Information Technology Services told the Appropriations subcommittee it is requesting salary and contractual increases and 19 new positions to support procurement modernization, artificial intelligence, a cloud center of excellence, expanded digital services and an innovation fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Veterans Affairs seeks $6M start-up for Tradition home, $375K to repair Gulf War memorial; cites procurement and staffing costs

Mississippi National Guard seeks recruitment incentives, armory repairs in $22M budget ask

ITS asks Legislature for staff and procurement overhaul, outlines five IT initiatives