Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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economy

Fort Bliss Economic Impact on the Texas Economy, 2021

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates the population directly affiliated with Fort Bliss, located in El Paso, contributed at least $22.9 billion to the Texas economy in 2021.[1]

Working with the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, the Comptroller’s office collected data from each of the state’s 14 U.S. military installations using a survey designed to ensure consistency in determining the total direct and indirect contribution of the base’s populations to state-level employment, gross domestic product, output and disposable personal income (Exhibit 1).[2]

Exhibit 1
Estimated Total Contribution of Fort Bliss
to the Texas Economy, 2021
Contribution Value
Total direct employment 46,971
Total employment (direct & indirect)[3] 120,799
Output[4] $22,944,253,000
Gross domestic product[5] $13,557,057,000
Disposable personal income[6] $7,969,926,000

Source: Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) - model for Texas

The Comptroller’s economic impact analysis represents a conservative estimate of the economic importance of Fort Bliss to Texas. Each installation’s distinctive characteristics contribute to the Texas economy in different ways. This analysis uses a consistent model to determine the economic impact of each of the state’s military installations to the state’s economic growth.


Appendix

The following data were provided by Fort Bliss.

Fort Bliss occupies a total of 1,120,000 acres.


Fort Bliss Employment and Other Populations
Position Full Time Equivalent (FTE)
FULL-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Active Duty Army 27,392
Active Duty Navy & Marines 34
Active Duty Air Force 905
Active Duty Coast Guard 0
Active Duty National Guard/Reserve 671
FULL-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL
Appropriated 1,729
Non-Appropriated 330
PART-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Reserve 0
Navy & Marines Reserve 0
Air Force Reserve 0
Coast Guard Reserve 0
PART-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL
Appropriated 1
Non-Appropriated 323
OTHER
Civilian Contractors, Total (staff) 2,730
Other Full-time Employees (not listed elsewhere) 4,744
Average Daily Student Load 8,112
Total Direct Employment 46,971
OTHER POPULATIONS
Number of Dependents 18,069
Number Attending On-installation School Attendance 1,722
Number Attending Off-installation School Attendance 10,059
Military retirees accessing station/base/post/camp facilities or resources (e.g. hospitals, PXs, exchanges, etc.) 32,857

End Notes

  1. This study represents an analysis of the economic impact of the population and employees directly affiliated with the base. This includes active duty, visiting, and other military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and contractors directly affiliated with the base – as reported in documents emailed from David Johnson, Management and Program Analyst, Fort Bliss, to Alexandra Taylor, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, January 20, 2022.
  2. Estimate inputs and assumptions include the following: (1) all data submitted are for 2021; (2) input includes full-time, permanent employees and a full-time equivalent (FTE) for any part-time employees; (3) dependents are associated with  Fort Bliss only; (4) all economic impact is within Texas.
  3. “Total employment” refers to both direct and indirect employment.
  4. “Output” refers to the total value of all goods and services (both final and intermediate) produced in Texas.
  5. “Gross domestic product” refers to the total value of all final goods and services produced in Texas.
  6. “Disposable personal income” refers to post-income-tax income.