Arizona Office of Homeland Security Director Frank F. Navarrete spoke to a group of mayors recently gathered in Washington, D.C. about funding

He focused on states’ national security efforts. Is there a funding logjam for first responders? If so, why? And finally, what to do about it? He had this to say:

“I’ll say that there is a problem, depending on the state. Re-allocation and distribution of dollars is a complex process. In Arizona, for example, money is allocated to 15 different counties. Once the money comes to my office, we apply a re-allocation formula, and distribute the money to the county accounts.

“At that point, it’s out of my hands. Each county has its own governance group that determines how funds will be distributed within the county, using their own allocation formulas.

“There are a number of reasons why the process overall can be slow — the reimbursement structure of the federal grant process, the state and local procurement processes, state and local staffing issues, and compliance with local governance requirements for funds.

“We’re working toward developing a regional plan, with perhaps three to five regions in our state, each with a regional manager or planning director. We could combine areas of the state with common issues, and apply equipment, resources, and functionality to a region in a more cost effective way.

“Each region would develop a strategy, which would roll up into our state strategy. I’d like this office to get into the central purchasing arena. For example, they’d order, and we’d buy for all the first responders. With a central purchasing plan, they wouldn’t have to front the money, and it would be very helpful in terms of timing and efficiency.

“I believe that a regional breakdown of our state, combined with regional managers and central bulk purchasing would take us a long way in terms of minimizing the problems we’ve encountered thus far, and will perhaps even become a nationwide model.”

FYI

The Web site for the Arizona Office of Homeland Security is www.homelandsecurity.az.gov. The telephone number is (602) 542-7013.

Securing Arizona: A Roadmap for Arizona Homeland Security

Executive Summary: The State of Arizona has developed this plan of action for establishing a long-term, fiscally prudent approach to homeland security.

For more information, read the full report at www.governor.state.az.us/ press/securing_Arizona.htm—