Postal Service Proposes To Close Processing Facillities

The United States Postal Service announced Thursday it may close more than 200 mail processing facilities across the country, including seven in Kansas, in an effort to further cut costs. Facilities in Colby, Dodge City, Hays, Hutchinson, Liberal, Salina, and Topeka would close under the proposal.

Losses of $8.5 billion last year are taking their toll on the U.S. Postal Service. Officials say the need to streamline their operations to reach their goal of returning to profitability. The closures would reduce total costs by $20 million by 2015.

The is the latest move by the U.S. Postal service to cut costs. The agency blames the economy and the internet for its losses. Mail volume has declined by more than 43 billion pieces in the past five years and is continuing to decline.

If the closures are approved, as many as 250 Kansas employees could lose their jobs. Officials say the agency will do everything possible to reassign the workers so they don’t lose their jobs