[CPEO-MEF] Defense budget seeks billions for base closures

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

February 3, 2003
Defense budget seeks billions for base closures
By George Cahlink
gcahlink@govexec.com

The Defense Department’s proposed $379.9 billion fiscal 2004 budget
suggests the Pentagon will close or realign as many as 25 percent of all
bases during the next round of base closures in 2005.

The proposed budget lays out a six-year spending plan that calls for
spending $2.97 billion on base closures in fiscal 2006, $5.26 billion in
fiscal 2007, and $2.25 billion in fiscal 2008. Defense budget officials
says they arrived at those figures by doubling the combined cost of the
last two round of base closings in 1993 and 1995, when about 12 percent
of all bases were closed.

Lawmakers approved holding another round of base closures in 2001, but
the 2004 budget proposal marks the first time money has been set aside
to pay for it.

Raymond Dubois, deputy undersecretary of Defense for installations and
environment, said in December that Defense could close or realign as
many bases in 2005 as in the previous four rounds combined. In those
rounds, 97 bases were closed, 55 major bases were realigned and 235
minor installations were either shut down or relocated. It takes about
six years to close or realign bases. The recommendations to do so come
from an independent commission appointed by Congress.

Defense budget officials says the hefty price tag for closing bases,
which could ultimately reach $20 billion, is justified by a projected
annual savings of $6.5 billion. Previous base closure have led to about
$6 billion in annual savings, although the proposed 2004 budget includes
$459 million for environmental cleanup and maintenance at bases closed
over the last decade.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0203/020303g1.htm

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