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Post office may move some operations to Great Falls
Zach White
The U. S. Postal Service is looking at its own efficiency.
Officials announced this morning that four Montana post offices, including Havre's, are among 100 across the country that are undergoing 30-day Area Mail Processing studies.
Al DeSarro, a USPS communications officer in Denver, said that recent financial difficulty has prompted the whole system to take a look at how well it works.
"We're non-tax supported. We are paid by mail volume, and mail volume has gone down 20 percent, " DeSarro said. "We have to economize and shift what we can to cut costs to efficiently process the mail. "
That 20 percent, since 2007, led to a deficit of $8.5 million last year. The postal service is looking at $6.5 million in losses this year.
Big Sky U. S. Postal Service district manager John DiPeri explains in the press release that they are looking to cut costs through consolidation.
"One way to do that is to consolidate operations where feasible, " DiPeri said. "That is why we're doing this study. Consolidating processing operations and placing our people where we need them makes logical business sense given the economic realities. We're only doing what any company would do when it's hit with a 20 percent decline in its business. "
The study is being conducted in Montana for offices in Havre, Helena, Butte and Miles City.
The first three are looking at how it might be beneficial to move most of the processing work to the Great Falls facility, which has more equipment and staff. The Miles City study is looking at consolidating in Billings.
At the end of the 30-day study, DeSarro said there will be a recommendation made and then a public meeting to discuss and take input on the proposed change. Then the final recommendation will be made to postal service headquarters in Washington, D.C.
DeSarro said that anyone who wants to offer input before the public meeting, during the 30-day study, can submit ideas to the Consumer Affairs Manager at 841 S. 26th St., Billings.
The U. S. Postal Service is looking at its own efficiency.
Officials announced this morning that four Montana post offices, including Havre's, are among 100 across the country that are undergoing 30-day Area Mail Processing studies.
Al DeSarro, a USPS communications officer in Denver, said that recent financial difficulty has prompted the whole system to take a look at how well it works.
"We're non-tax supported. We are paid by mail volume, and mail volume has gone down 20 percent, " DeSarro said. "We have to economize and shift what we can to cut costs to efficiently process the mail. "
That 20 percent, since 2007, led to a deficit of $8.5 million last year. The postal service is looking at $6.5 million in losses this year.
Big Sky U. S. Postal Service district manager John DiPeri explains in the press release that they are looking to cut costs through consolidation.
"One way to do that is to consolidate operations where feasible, " DiPeri said. "That is why we're doing this study. Consolidating processing operations and placing our people where we need them makes logical business sense given the economic realities. We're only doing what any company would do when it's hit with a 20 percent decline in its business. "
The study is being conducted in Montana for offices in Havre, Helena, Butte and Miles City.
The first three are looking at how it might be beneficial to move most of the processing work to the Great Falls facility, which has more equipment and staff. The Miles City study is looking at consolidating in Billings.
At the end of the 30-day study, DeSarro said there will be a recommendation made and then a public meeting to discuss and take input on the proposed change. Then the final recommendation will be made to postal service headquarters in Washington, D.C.
DeSarro said that anyone who wants to offer input before the public meeting, during the 30-day study, can submit ideas to the Consumer Affairs Manager at 841 S. 26th St., Billings.
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