MINOT AIR FORCE BASE - The annual economic report for Minot Air Force Base shows the base remains a major economic player worth nearly $383 million to the local economy in fiscal year 2008.
This year's total figure is slightly higher than the fiscal year 2007 report when the annual economic impact was $371 million.
The annual report is done by the Budget Office of the 5th Bomb Wing Comptroller to provide community leaders information on the impact the base has on the local community.
Article Photos
Eloise Ogden/MDN •
The “Only The Best Come North” slogan over the main gate to Minot Air Force Base greets people entering the base, shown in this Jan. 30 photo. This year the base added nearly $383 million to the local economy.
Lt. Col. Donald Brewer, acting commander of the 5th Comptroller Squadron, said the report also shows the Air Force's commitment to the base in sustaining operations.
The report was released at the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce's meeting held in the Grand International Inn Thursday.
Here's some of the statistics reported:
PERSONNEL
Total personnel: 10,885.
Active-duty military members (including four reservists): 4,435.
Dependents of active-duty military members: 5,147.
Civilians employed on base: 1,303.
Number of military members and dependents living off base: 5,718.
There was a slight drop in population but Brewer said it is not unique Minot AFB. He said all bases over the past several years have experienced to some degree a drop in population. The 2007 report showed a total population of 11,159.
However, the base has had an increase in the number of civilians working on base 1,303 in 2008 compared to 1,212 in 2007.
PAYROLL
Annual payroll: $241 million.
Military (including reservists) payroll: $194 million.
Civilian personnel: $47 million.
EXPENDITURES FOR CONSTRUCTION, SERVICES AND PROCUREMENT OF MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
Total annual expenditures: $88.5 million.
Construction: $58 million (i.e. Base Exchange, Shoppette, family housing, more than $3 million for 91st Missile Wing renovations on base and at missile alert facilities).
Services contracts: $2 million.
Materials, equipment and supplies procurement: $28 million.
In 2009, Brewer said work
will continue on the latest $170 million phase of the family
housing upgrade. The work is projected to be completed in fiscal year 2012.
"We're also continuing work on the Base Exchange construction and a new dormitory has been started, so we see positive dollar impact to the Minot area over the next few years," he said.
"So what does it mean for you? Well, most importantly, jobs," Brewer said. He said a number of base jobs that are created by expenditures are determined by a Department of Defense multiplier that is used across the Air Force depending on the size of the local community. "It's interesting to note the multiplier hasn't changed since the BRAC round in 1995," Brewer said. BRAC is the acronym for base realignment and closure.
ESTIMATE OF NUMBER AND DOLLAR VALUE OF INDIRECT JOBS CREATED
Estimated number of indirect jobs created: 1,847.
Average annual pay for the local community: $28,784.
Estimated annual dollar value of jobs created: $53.2 million.
TOTAL ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT ESTIMATE: Nearly $383 million.
"This is what we consider to represent the impact at Minot Air Force Base and the local community," Brewer said.
Military retirees' pay is not included in the annual report but Brewer said retirees' combined income was $24 million in 2008. He said it is quite significant that the military pay has increased about 43 percent over the past five years. As of Sept. 30, 2008, there were 1,269 military retirees living in the area, with the majority of them 1,074 Air Force retirees.
"FY 2008 saw an increase in total economic impact. There was increased spending in all areas," Brewer said. "Fiscal year 2008 impact was 7.8 percent higher than five years ago and I think it's safe to say that Minot Air Force Base has continued to have a positive economic impact on the city of Minot and surrounding areas."