The Joint Finance Committee heard FY27 budget orientations and presentations for the Delaware National Guard, Department of Agriculture, and DENREC, with no votes taken on any substantive item. Key tensions emerged over non-recommended requests for DENREC e-permitting and coastal resilience programs, federal funding cuts threatening National Guard readiness, and chronic undercompensation of state agriculture employees.
+ 6 more actions
Senator Hansen asked 'are we sort of chopping the legs out from underneath of our local communities?' referencing Delaware as 'the lowest lying state in the country' with coastal flooding impacts. Ms. Fadel countered: 'we're not reducing. We're just not expanding upon it,' framing the decision as a prioritization rather than a cut.
+ 1 more controversy
“Delaware National Guard provides significant value to both the state and the nation. We appreciate the opportunity to share this proposal which outlines the essential investments required to uphold and upgrade our infrastructure, personnel and capabilities. Its emphasis on our dedication to mission readiness and our commitment to effectively support our service members in the communities they serve in all state and federal missions. The Delaware National Guard's FY27 Operation Budget Request does not include enhanced growth. However, the operating budget submission and governor's recommendation recommended budget identify specific items to support as top priorities for the next fiscal year. A door opener was submitted for”
+ 2 more quotes
Subscribe to see all key actions, controversies, quotes, and what's next.
Sign in to subscribeGet started with orientation. On today's agenda, there is the National Guard Agriculture followed by lunch. And then this afternoon will be devoted to the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control. I do want to make an important announcement to members of the committee as well as the home viewing audience. Tomorrow's hearings have been rescheduled. JFC will not be meeting tomorrow. And so the hearings for education have been moved to March 3rd. So with that I am going to turn it over to Mr. Smith who is going to start with orientation for the National Guard. Senator Lawson, do you have a. Do you have a question? Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we are under tab 76. 00 in your binders for the Delaware National Guard. And the Delaware National Guard has a fiscal year 26 base budget of 98.5 NSF FTEs and 31.5 general fund positions. There's a general fund appropriation of $6,319,900 and a fiscal year 26 personnel contingency of $97,700. The first request that you see here, which has been recommended is for $31,000 for additional operating costs for the River Road Readiness Center. This will be for energy, utility costs and…
Subscribe to unlock the full transcript, summary, and search across all Delaware committee hearings.
Sign in to subscribe