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Agency 305
Department of Veterans Affairs
RCW 43.60A

Request

$53,404,000

Net change from current biennium

$1,048,227

Increase

Percent change from current biennium

2.0%

Increase

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a full range of services and assistance to Washington's nearly 700,000 veterans and their 1.2 million family members. The Department is an advocate for veterans and their families and aggressively pursues all federal and state benefits and entitlements on their behalf. The services include restorative health care, counseling, claims preparation, and extensive outreach.

The goal of the Department is to ensure that veterans and their family members receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled under federal and state law. Within this goal, the Department uses a case management approach that focuses on the needs of the individuals and their families by providing services in a holistic fashion.

Links to Program Level Detail

Headquarters

Field Services

Washington Veterans' Home

Washington Soldiers' Home and Colony

Agency Level Summary

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Operating Budget: Summary
1995-97 Appropriations								Appropriated Funds							Expenditures
	Amount		Estimated Balance											1993-95 Actual			1995-97 Estimated		1997-99 Proposed
21,509,905				19,457				General Fund - Basic Account - State							22,460,769			21,490,448		20,609,000
17,826,000				249,675				General Fund - Basic Account - Federal							14,225,237			17,576,325		19,474,000
163,000								General Fund - Basic Account - Federal Unanticipated							446,286			163,000
12,789,000								General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local							12,480,455			12,789,000		13,237,000
308,000								General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated							179,000			308,000
25,000								Industrial Insurance Premium Refund - State							77,991			25,000		80,000
4,000								Char/Ed/Penal/Reform/Institutions - State							3,997			4,000		4,000
52,624,905				269,132				Total Appropriated Funds							49,873,735			52,355,773		53,404,000

Capital Budget: Summary*
1995-97 Appropriations								Appropriated Funds							Expenditures
	Amount		Estimated Balance											1993-95 Actual			1995-97 Estimated		1997-99 Proposed
								General Fund - Basic Account - Federal Unanticipated							452,253
3,137,296				(76,000)				Char/Ed/Penal/Reform/Institutions - State							2,508,189			3,213,296		6,497,882
1,181,254				4,000				State Building Construction Account - State							3,090,892			1,177,254		294,000
4,318,550				(72,000)				Total Appropriated Funds							6,051,334			4,390,550		6,791,882

*For detail projects, see 1997-99 Capital Plan.

Operating Budget: Summary by Object

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries And Wages				13,921,152			14,336,565			14,614,968			14,810,000			15,004,000
Employee Benefits				4,714,137			4,734,295			5,077,139			4,994,000			5,024,000
Personal Service Contracts				130,985			50,919			62,677			108,000			108,000
Goods And Services				3,895,424			4,089,437			4,479,746			4,537,000			4,461,000
Travel				76,307			89,990			86,071			77,000			79,000
Capital Outlays				639,474			751,327						288,000			156,000
Grants, Benefits & Client Services				2,060,511			1,828,967			2,429,027			2,069,000			2,033,000
Debt Service				44,957			39,332			39,203			39,000			39,000
Interagency Reimbursements				(259,352)			(258,087)			(165,302)			(210,000)			(212,000)
Intra-Agency Reimbursements				456			(1)			69,500

Annual Total				25,224,051			25,662,744			26,693,029			26,712,000			26,692,000

Operating Budget: Program Summary

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Headquarters				1,248,679			1,321,625			1,274,713			1,461,000			1,460,000
Field Services				2,076,189			2,134,979			2,721,756			2,397,000			2,432,000
Washington Veterans' Home				13,615,223			13,489,030			13,874,352			13,970,000			13,907,000
Washington Soldiers' Home				8,283,960			8,717,110			8,822,208			8,884,000			8,893,000
Annual Total				25,224,051			25,662,744			26,693,029			26,712,000			26,692,000
Fiscal Year 1993-94				24,649,684
Biennium Total				49,873,735			52,355,773						53,404,000

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

				1993-95 Actual								1995-97 Estimated								1997-99 Proposed
				Amount			Percent				Amount					Percent			Amount					Percent
Headquarters			1,294,345			96.0%				(46,310)					(1.8)%			324,662					12.5%
Field Services			42,312			1.0%				686,014					16.4%			(27,735)					(0.6)%
Washington Veterans' Home			2,921,484			12.7%				1,413,858					5.4%			513,618					1.9%
Washington Soldiers' Home			3,506,008			25.8%				428,476					2.5%			237,682					1.4%
Belated Claims			(4,831)			(100.0)%

Total			7,759,318			18.4%				2,482,038					5.0%			1,048,227					2.0%

Employment Summary

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			486.1		485.8			495.2				492.7				492.7
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			28,638			29,511		29,513				30,059				30,453

Agency Local Funds

Institutional Stores Account
This account is for activity within retail store operated by state employees. Revenue comes from sale of goods to residents, private individuals, and facility programs.
Institutional Welfare and Betterment Account
This account is for donated funds received at a facility where the state purpose is to enhance resident life. Revenue comes from organizations and private individuals.

Statement of Local Fund Balances

			6/30/95 Fund Balance			6/30/97 Estimated Fund Balance			1997-1999 Estimated Revenues			1997-1999 Estimated Expenditures		6/30/99 Estimated Fund Balance
Non-Budgeted Funds
Institutional Stores			20,267			287,000		643,000			581,000			349,000
Welfare and Betterment Fund			47,136			193,000		98,000			163,000			128,000
Total Non-Budgeted Funds			67,403			480,000		836,000			744,000			477,000

Program Level Detail

Headquarters

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The Headquarters program provides management, operational and policy direction to the department and carries out comprehensive administrative support for all agency programs and services. This includes the functions of personnel, administrative services, budget and fiscal management, media and public information, contracts management, legislative relations, occupational safety, professional development and training, capital program administration, information systems, data management, policy review, forms and records management, internal audit, program evaluation, and interagency coordination. The Headquarters program also provides extensive administrative and research support to the 17-member Governor's Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee.

The objective is to provide quality support services for overall agency operations.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			19.9		20.6			23.4				22.0				22.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			38,327			37,576		33,714				35,364				36,182

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			955,258			976,098			974,262			983,000			1,004,000
Grants and Subsidies			2,579
Other Operating Costs			290,842			345,527			300,451			478,000			456,000

Annual Total			1,248,679			1,321,625			1,274,713			1,461,000			1,460,000
Fiscal Year 1993-94			1,393,969
Biennium Total			2,642,648			2,596,338						2,921,000

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				1,208,127			1,293,461				1,273,877			1,419,000			1,418,000
Industrial Insurance Premium Refund - State				40,552			24,164				836			40,000			40,000
Char/Ed/Penal/Reform/Institutions - State							4,000							2,000			2,000

Annual Total				1,248,679			1,321,625				1,274,713			1,461,000			1,460,000

Field Services

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This program provides services for Washington's nearly 700,000 veterans and 1.2 million family members. Key to this service are 12 Field Service offices strategically located throughout the state. Additionally, the state-operated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) program provides counseling and assistance through 26 contract providers. Field Services also operates 17 homeless veteran programs at various locations statewide and provides outreach services to eligible veterans and family members in more than 350 nursing homes throughout the state. Through Field Services, the Department provides advocacy-based services which feature outreach efforts to address the needs of veteran populations which have traditionally been underserved (Hispanics, Native Americans, and urban African Americans). Field Services also provides continuing interaction with the state's nearly 40 veteran service organizations.

The objectives of the program include the enhancement of the lives of veterans and family members by maximizing counseling efforts on benefits and entitlements.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			22.7		20.5			22.5				20.7				20.7
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			33,444			35,856		30,601				36,232				37,295

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			965,132			947,024			883,318			950,000			976,000
Grants and Subsidies			1,274,770			1,148,747			1,718,389			1,414,000			1,378,000
Other Operating Costs			(163,713)			39,208			120,049			33,000			78,000

Annual Total			2,076,189			2,134,979			2,721,756			2,397,000			2,432,000
Fiscal Year 1993-94			2,094,532
Biennium Total			4,170,721			4,856,735						4,829,000

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				1,695,225			1,881,344				2,288,066			2,341,000			2,377,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				285,952			131,325							13,000			13,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal Unanticipated				79,012			16,805				146,195
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local				16,000			52,770				32,230			43,000			42,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated							52,735				255,265

Annual Total				2,076,189			2,134,979				2,721,756			2,397,000			2,432,000

Washington Veterans' Home

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The Washington Veterans' Home in Retsil provides long-term nursing and domiciliary care to honorably discharged veterans and eligible spouses or widows. The Home provides living quarters, medical care, therapeutic care, rehabilitation, social services, and meals.

The goal of the Veterans' Home is to provide restorative care to promote the highest level of independence and self-sufficiency each resident member can attain.

The primary objective of the Home is to consistently meet all regulatory requirements and applicable care standards.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			278.8		277.6			279.4				280.0				280.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			27,463			28,543		28,874				29,179				29,493

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			10,310,785			10,606,302			10,875,125			10,997,000			11,098,000
Grants and Subsidies			529,624			430,264			451,903			516,000			516,000
Other Operating Costs			2,774,814			2,452,464			2,547,324			2,457,000			2,293,000

Annual Total			13,615,223			13,489,030			13,874,352			13,970,000			13,907,000
Fiscal Year 1993-94			12,334,301
Biennium Total			25,949,524			27,363,382						27,877,000

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - State				4,439,670			4,301,382				4,200,000			3,856,000			3,393,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				4,848,872			4,909,577				6,560,423			5,945,000			6,237,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal Unanticipated				231,792
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local				3,993,889			4,278,071				3,113,929			4,169,000			4,277,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated				101,000

Annual Total				13,615,223			13,489,030				13,874,352			13,970,000			13,907,000

Washington Soldiers' Home and Colony

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The Washington Soldiers' Home and Colony in Orting provides long-term nursing and domiciliary care to honorably discharged veterans and eligible spouses or widows. In addition, it provides ancillary services to members living in the "Colony," a unique community care concept using resident-owned and occupied homes located within the Orting School District.

The goal of the Soldiers' Home is to provide restorative care to promote the highest level of independence and self-sufficiency each resident member can attain.

The primary objective of the Soldiers' Home is to consistently meet all regulatory requirements and applicable care standards.

Program Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			164.7		167.1			169.9				170.0				170.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			28,796			29,346		29,842				30,071				30,459

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			6,404,114			6,541,436			6,959,402			6,874,000			6,950,000
Grants and Subsidies			253,538			249,956			258,735			139,000			139,000
Other Operating Costs			1,626,308			1,925,718			1,604,071			1,871,000			1,804,000

Annual Total			8,283,960			8,717,110			8,822,208			8,884,000			8,893,000
Fiscal Year 1993-94			8,826,882
Biennium Total			17,110,842			17,539,318						17,777,000