General Services tells senators it needs staff for Melida campus and a security‑compliant drone

General Services Commissioner Andy Kidd and director of financial management Michael Winston spoke to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee about two FY27 cost increases tied to operations and technology and answered questions on several late requests and procurement issues.

Kidd and Winston said the agency seeks seven new positions to support the multi‑agency law‑enforcement training campus (Melida). The positions, they said, are needed to transition the campus to an operational posture while existing agency training locations continue to operate. The roles will provide campus leadership, coordinate co‑located agency needs for housing, dining and training facilities, and manage shared logistics across four agencies that will occupy the site.

Winston also described a separate request: $50,000 to purchase a security‑compliant photographic drone for the agency's photographic services unit, which documents state events. He said the drone must meet security standards, will be large and require transport equipment and software, and will restore capabilities lost when a previous drone was retired over security concerns about its country‑of‑origin electronics.

Senators pressed for detail. Committee members asked why new positions were needed instead of moving existing staff; General Services said existing campus staff must continue training operations and cannot be pulled without disruption. The agency said future efficiencies will be pursued with Finance and Administration once the campus is in routine operation.

Committee members also questioned an unanticipated $3.7 million design request tied to an expansion of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Deputy commissioner John Hall told the committee the request is design money only, arrived late from the museum, and has not been programmed; he agreed General Services should have coordinated more clearly with the Tennessee State Museum and promised follow‑up with museum leadership and the State Museum.

Other items: the committee discussed a reissued procurement for the statewide court system after a protest canceled the earlier RFP; a planned RFP response date and target contract date were provided. Senators pressed for clarity on megasite funding and a reported $1.5 million reduction labeled a funding swap to reflect tenant revenues replacing state support.

What happens next: General Services will provide follow‑up details to the committee on the National Civil Rights Museum request and on megasite/pipeline access questions. The committee approved the broader budget recommendations and moved on to other agencies' presentations.

Direct quotes from the hearing are included above from witnesses and committee members.