NEW FUNDING COULD DELAY CEMETERY

A change in how the federal government funds state veterans cemeteries could save Missouri millions, but could also delay two planned projects, including one at Bloomfield.

A law signed by President Clinton on Veterans Day allows the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to fund 100 percent of construction and initial equipment costs for new state veterans cemeteries.

Previously, costs were split evenly between the VA and the state undertaking the project.

While Missouri Veterans Commission officials applaud the federal government's willingness to pick up the whole tab, there is some concern that the program could now be underfunded.

When Congress doubled the VA's financial burden for state cemeteries, it didn't increase the appropriation for the grant program.

Also, with the offer of 100 percent funding, more states are likely to seek grants.

Ron Taylor, director of services and planning for the Veterans Commission, said Congress typically allocates about $10 million annually for cemetery construction. In previous years, funds were available for every project that qualified under VA guidelines.

"If there is still only $10 million available next year and instead of only two or three projects you have eight or 10, it just won't work," Taylor said. "But there is a chance Congress could increase the money in the grant fund."

Lloyd Smith, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, said Emerson is looking at the issue.

The Veterans Commission is in the process of developing a statewide network of four veterans cemeteries. Sites were chosen so 90 percent of the state's veteran population would live within 75 miles of a veterans cemetery.

This summer, the commission announced plans to build cemeteries in Bloomfield in Southeast Missouri and Jacksonville, a small Randolph County community north of Moberly. Construction will cost $5 million each.

The commission hopes to secure federal funding for the project by next fall and begin construction in 2000, with the cemeteries open for burials in late 2001.

Without federal funding, Taylor said the projects will likely be delayed. He added that state money could pay for design and other preliminary work in anticipation of a future federal dollars.

A consulting firm is already studying both sites. Its preliminary assessment should be completed by February. The commission will file a funding application for the projects with the VA by April.

State cemeteries at Springfield and Higginsville are being funded under the old federal grant program and will be unaffected by the changes. Construction on those projects began in October and should be completed in late 1999.

Missouri is home to approximately 569,000 veterans.