Merging JBLM not saving money estimated
Jul 5, 2012, 5:00 AM | Updated: 6:58 am
When the defense department combined Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base and other military bases seven years ago, it said it would save billions of dollars, but the savings aren't panning out. (AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
When the defense department combined Fort Lewis and
McChord Air Force Base and other military bases seven
years ago, it said it would save billions of dollars, but
the savings aren’t panning out.
Combining those bases, closing others and eliminating
redundant programs was supposed to add up to $36
billion by 2025.
The defense department now says the savings will likely
only amount to $10 billion.
It turns out, making the transition to a more streamlined
operation cost a lot more on the front-end than the
Department of Defense expected. The Pentagon expected up-
front costs to run about $21 billion. It has spent $35
billion. It says construction costs have run a lot higher
than expected.
The Tacoma News Tribune
reports JBLM is seeing some savings and has gained
some important
efficiencies, but the base says it’s too soon to say what
the long term savings will be.
