The Military / Veterans Coalition of Indiana www.in.milcoal.org Summer Study on Veteran Service Officers

GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level Geographic Distribution of the US Dept of Veterans Affairs Expenditures (GDX) The GDX Report presents the estimated dollar expenditures for major VA Programs by county within each state. Expenditure data is grouped by the following categories: Compensation and Pension (C&P); Education and Vocational Rehabilitation; Insurance and Indemnities; Construction (CNSTR); General Operating Expenses (GOE); and Medical Care. The GDX Report also includes veteran population estimates by county within each state and the number of unique patients who used VA health care services (http://www.va.gov/VETDATA/docs/GDX/GDX_Readme.pdf).

GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level Rank 16th in Vet population with 469,210 Vets. Down a net of about 7,073 from 2014 (about 3,500 left the state and the others died).   130,705 IN Veterans received federal VA benefits in 2015 Calculated average $21,323 /YR per veteran.

GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level   Total expenditures paid to IN Vets: $2,787 BILLION up from $2,616 BILLION; This is an increase of $171 MILLION

GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level US Dept of Veterans Affairs, in FY08, set target of 36% of the VETs to receive VA benefits & services. IN at 27.86% 38,211 IN Vets needed for 36% IN dropped to 27th from 26th other states have discovered the value of veterans and are doing a better job of connecting to them

GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level Why? CVSO under-representation Some work as little as 8 hours a week! Some work 12 hours a week. Veterans in some counties exceeds the capacity of veteran service officers to serve. Few do proactive outreach. Few support Veterans’ Treatment Courts

GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level IN LOST $815 MILLION last year alone!   Using General Assembly value 9.8 cents of every dollar spent goes to Indiana taxes and the velocity of money of 5; IN missed $480 MILLION in taxes. IT IS SOUND BUSINESS TO “INVEST” IN INDIANA VETERANS!

Public Consulting Group Dec 5, 2014 Evaluation of Veterans’ benefits and Assistance Operations

Additional supporting facts 3,500 Vets left IN in 2015; w/ spouse & family. WalletHub: Avg. retirement age: Off 47.1 & EM 43.2 The National Active Retirement Association reports “a retiree couple is the equivalent to 3.7 manufacturing jobs…” higher disposable incomes -- better educations Less burden on streets, infrastructure, & schools. active volunteers -- have higher wealth on average, they pay higher taxes on purchases and property.” Therefore, we should do everything to keep and even grow this cohort.

Additional supporting facts According to American Community Survey 2014, “the median household income among Vets in the US is $56,890.” Male Vets working full time earn about $6,000 more than similar non-Vets. Female Vets earned about $7,000 more than similar non-Vets (Per Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Policy and Planning, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics in their June 2016 report. Getting and keeping veterans is a very positive economic advantage for a state.)

21st Century Veterans Support Plan Our Recommendation 21st Century Veterans Support Plan

21st Century Veterans Support Plan Fund IDVA w/ ”fenced” fund to provide grants to counties for the express purposes of funding CVSOs based upon formula of 1 CVSO per each 7,500 county vet population rounded to the closest half person minus 1 CVSO. EXAMPLE: Allen Co. has 23,236 vets. Divide by 7.5K= 3.10 Now round to 3 (closest half) and subtract 1 = 2 additional CVSOs to be funded via grant from IDVA at the annual minimum federal exempt salary rate.

21st Century Veterans Support Plan Counties Vet count Calculated Adds Allen 23,236, 3.10 2additional Clark 9,089, 1.21 0 additional Delaware 8,727, 1.16 0 additional Elkhart 10,956 1.46 .5 additional Hamilton 17,136 2.28 1 additional Hendricks 13,355 1.78 1 additional Johnson 11,834 1.58 .5 additional La Porte 10,020 1.34 .5 additional Lake 31,423 4.19 3 additional Madison 10,818 1.44 .5 additional Marion 61,688 8.225 7 additional Porter 13,331 1.77 1 additional St Joseph 17,608 2.35 1.5 additional Tippecanoe 10,274 1.37 .5 additional Vanderburgh 12,873 1.72 1 additional Vigo 8,167 1.09 0 additional 20 Total   20 additional FTEs @ $47,476= $949,520 Rep Judy used $35K 20@$35K= $700,000

21st Century Veterans Support Plan Require County Veteran Service Officers to be funded at 1000 hours per year. Provide funding from IDVA operating budget or establish a separate appropriation from the general fund for all Veteran Service Officers. ½ the minimum federal exempt salary per county. Calculation: 92 CVSOs X .5 time X $47,476 = $2,183,896.00 annually. Rep Judy used $15K 92@$15K= $1,380,000

21st Century Veterans Support Fund CVSO training, annual update, Service Officer training expenses, and “VETRASPEC” software licenses w/ state appropriation.  Calculation: 92 CVSOs + 20 CVSOs X ($500 for software + $170 per hotel, food, and travel) =$75,400 CVSO to serve for 5 yrs. (Poor performance exception).

21st Century Veterans Support Written notification to county/ city leadership, & governor 60-90 days of vacancy . Withheld from cities & counties a portion of income if they fail to enforce accreditation and reaccreditation requirements.

Indiana "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." -- George Washington