Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Fort Benning-area communities plan for base expansion
As Fort Benning expands under the latest base realignment plan, area civilian leaders are trying to prepare for thousands of new neighbors - and their impact on schools, roads, housing and public services.
May 22, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) - As Fort Benning expands under the latest base realignment plan, area civilian leaders are trying to prepare for thousands of new neighbors - and their impact on schools, roads, housing and public services.
Harry Lange, vice chairman of the Harris County Commission, told a group of civic and business leaders he understands the impact that recent realignment decisions will have on Fort Benning.
“But what will it be on the rest of us?“ Lange asked at Monday’s Bi-State Strategic Planning Session. “It’s frustrating. There simply are too many variables. We still don’t know how many people will be coming to our county nor how many children.“
Most of the hundred or so leaders invited by the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce shared the same common concern: Where will the funding come from?
Almost $3 billion in federal funds over the next several years should enable Fort Benning to meet all of its responsibilities.
“We can handle the growth,“ said Col. Keith Lovejoy, Fort Benning’s garrison commander. “BRAC money is guaranteed.“
But he added, “History shows that not a whole lot of BRAC money goes into the local communities.“
Under base realignment and closure priorities announced in 2005, Fort Benning expects to grow. But other Georgia bases are closing: Atlanta’s Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem, Marietta’s Naval Air Station-Atlanta, and the Athens Naval Supply School.
The Army estimates that newcomers to Fort Benning could total 45,000 over the next few years, including military members, their families, civilian employees and contractors.
“We’ll continue to remind people that it takes years to build roads and schools,“ said Mike Gaymon, the chamber’s executive director. “And frankly, we don’t have that many years.“