The military’s largest travel agency in Arizona, Phoenix Travel Agency, will move its headquarters to the Phoenix suburb of Crescent City after a $2.5 million bond measure failed to pass in the House on Thursday.
The move comes after the military’s annual budget request for the year was about $3 billion.
The bill would have funded the relocation of Phoenix Travel by 10 percent and $200 million in the first year.
The relocation is scheduled to begin next year.
“The military has made a commitment to support our community for generations, and we’re grateful to the leadership of the House and Senate for supporting this important job-creating measure,” Phoenix Travel Chairman Steve Paine said in a statement.
“This was a tough vote, but the military is the leader in providing high-quality services and is an integral part of our communities.”
Paine says the military has been unable to secure the funds necessary to move the agency’s headquarters.
“We’re thrilled to have the support of our members and taxpayers,” Paine added.
Paine’s organization has a $1.9 million budget and relies on military contracts for most of its travel and tourism services.
The company was founded in 2005 and has about 1,300 employees in about 20 states.
Pains is a former Navy SEAL and has been in the military for more than 25 years.
Pileser, a Democrat, won the state’s 8th Congressional District in 2014.
He previously represented the district from Phoenix.
The military has said that it will not move its offices from the Phoenix-area due to security concerns.
Pileer said that the move will not impact Phoenix’s airport, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which serves about 80 percent of the nation’s military.
He said that Phoenix Airport has a capacity of about 40,000 passengers per day and that the Pentagon plans to continue to fly military personnel to and from the area.
The Army is the largest private employer in the city and is the primary provider of air travel in Phoenix.
Army Secretary Bob Work is slated to meet with members of the military Wednesday to discuss the relocation plan.
The Pentagon’s relocation plan is similar to a similar plan that was adopted in Phoenix last year.
Pillsbury said that Paine has “never been a fan of the Air Force or the Air National Guard.
We will be supportive of the effort to secure funding and move forward on the proposal.”
