Tobyhanna Army Depot could suffer more than $300 million in cuts - slashing its budget by more than one-third this year - if automatic spending reductions take hold in March.
A new report issued by the Army on the impact of across-the-board federal spending reductions under budget sequestration states that Tobyhanna would face $309 million in funding cuts through Sept. 30, as part of $500 billion to be sliced over 10 years from defense spending.
"That will happen by the end of the fiscal year," said Dove Schwartz, an Army spokesman. "That's not nine or 10 years down the road."
The cuts are rolled into $1.2 trillion in automatic reductions starting March 1 unless Congress acts to prevent it. The reductions are a consequence of budget talks that failed last year to address the country's mounting debt.
Tobyhanna, one of the region's largest employers with about 5,400 workers, is the military's primary facility for the repair and maintenance of communications and electronics equipment. About 2,000 of its employees live in Lackawanna County and about 1,400 are Luzerne County residents.
The depot's annual operating budget is about $905 million, so the automatic cut would represent a 34 percent reduction in its funding.
Normal operations continue at Tobyhanna, as the facility awaits instruction from the Pentagon, spokeswoman Jacqueline Boucher said.
"They haven't sent us any guidance or impact yet," Boucher said. "It's business as usual."
Statewide, the report projects the sequester would cut Army spending by $1.1 billion by Oct. 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year. It would result in furloughs to 8,421 civilian employees of the Army in Pennsylvania, with a loss of $50 million in income.
The state's other Army depot, Letterkenny, in Franklin County, would absorb spending reductions of $442 million, according to the report.
The loss of 1,570 jobs would result because of decreased depot operations, the report states. It does not detail specific locations.
"This report further emphasizes the damaging impacts that the sequester could have on Northeastern Pennsylvania," U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said. "Republicans and Democrats should come together to avoid the sequester and cut spending in a responsible way."
Austin Burke, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, said the scope of the impact should move Congress and President Barack Obama to strike a compromise and avert wholesale cuts.
"This is a matter of great concern," Burke said. "Tobyhanna is such an important economic engine for all of Northeastern Pennsylvania."
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, said the cuts would harm the nation's defense and decimate military installations.
"I am hopeful that we can enter into what will be difficult negotiations to identify other spending reductions to protect our nation's military, our national security and the jobs here at home that they represent," he said.
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic, whose district includes the depot, said he was investigating the impact and declined specifically to comment about the depot.
"Republican leadership must call the House back in session so that Congress can get to work and stop the proposed, irresponsible, indiscriminate cuts," he said.
The Army estimates the cuts will result in $15 billion in wage and spending reductions through September, with the most-severe employment impacts occurring in Texas, followed by Virginia, Alabama and Pennsylvania.
↧
Tobyhanna Army Depot could lose $300M in funding cuts
↧
Health trust labor faction nixes cost-shopping plan
EDWARDSVILLE - An attempt by the management faction of the Northeastern Pennsylvania School Districts Health Trust to shop around for lower prices on some services failed at a meeting Wednesday.
The trust is a group of 10 school districts and the Luzern
↧
↧
Spending cuts could hit Tobyhanna depot
Tobyhanna Army Depot could suffer more than $300 million in cuts - slashing its budget by more than one-third this year - if automatic spending reductions take hold in March. A new report issued by the Army on the impact of across-the-board federal spending reductions under budget sequestration states that Tobyhanna would face $309 million in funding cuts through Sept. 30.
↧
Dinner theater: Greek fare star of Theo's menu
The unique ambience at Theo's Metro comes from its history as a popcorn factory. Owner Peter Theodorelos preserved many antiques left behind after the factory closed in 1994. In the spacious dining room, patrons can dine on Greek specialities.
↧
Treat veterans equally for mental and physical ailments
Editor:
In a recent court decision the court system awarded a veteran a sizeable settlement brought about by his mental illness and his incorrect treatment at the Veterans Administration Hospital.
I want to make your readers aware of the Veterans Adminis
↧
↧
World War II vet receives medals
WILKES-BARRE - An only child and sole provider for his widowed mother, John Gosciewski didn't have to join the World War II effort. But still he volunteered with his friends to serve.
↧
NCAA sues Corbett, state officials
It's a burgeoning courtroom rivalry: the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body for major college athletics, and Gov. Tom Corbett, battling wits and murky precedent over the severe sanctions the organization imposed on Penn State last July in the wake of an alleged child-sex abuse cover-up at the university.
↧
Legal battle continues over Piazza emails
WILKES-BARRE - Lawyers for Luzerne County and The Citizens' Voice were back in the courtroom Wednesday, debating the release of emails from ousted Director of Elections Leonard Piazza.
↧
Attorney to run for Pittston-area magistrate
Attorney Jeffrey C. Kulick is running for magisterial district judge for the Pittston area.
Kulick announced his candidacy in a press release Wednesday.
He was born and raised in Hughestown by his parents, Joseph J. Kulick Sr. and Mary Patricia Boylan K
↧
↧
Abington Heights advances, ends Crestwood's season
WRIGHT TOWNSHIP - Abington Heights girls basketball coach Vince Bucciarelli is the first one to point out that outside shooting isn't one of his team's strengths.
↧
Barletta rails against amnesty for illegals
Proposals by President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio to grant amnesty to 11 million illegal immigrants will cost American taxpayers an estimated $2.6 trillion for social programs over 20 years, U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta said.
Either proposal would
↧
Earnings up at Penn Security
Earnings up at Penn Security
SCRANTON - Penn Security Bank & Trust Co. parent, Penseco Financial Services Corp., reported fourth-quarter earnings of $2.7 million, a 9.7 percent increase over the year-ago period.
Earnings per share for the quarter were 82
↧
Article 8
Valley Lodge 499 Free and Accepted Masons, West Pittston, will present a $500 scholarship in memory of Brother Casimir J. Dylo.
Dylo was a past master of Valley Lodge and was known throughout the area for his leadership abilities, instruction in Mason
↧
↧
Scene & heard: Joan Rivers coming to Kirby
Tickets for Joan Rivers' appearance at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre are on sale now at the venue. Rivers presents "My Life in Show Business: 135 Years and Counting" April 27 at 8 p.m.
↧
Article 6
As the culminating event for the Artist in Residence program this year at St. Jude School, the Parent Teacher Guild is sponsoring a "Soup-er Bowl" in the cafeteria from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Over the course of the last several weeks, the stude
↧
Sandusky to appeal opinion rejecting new trial
BELLEFONTE— Jerry Sandusky's attorney has filed notice that he'll appeal a judge's ruling last month that rejected arguments that defense attorneys didn't have enough time to prepare for the three-week trial at which the former Penn State assistant football coach was convicted on 45 child sex abuse charges.
↧
Rosetti stands on plea; will be sentenced March 5
The retired director of the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit did not withdraw his guilty plea in federal court this morning and will be sentenced on March 5. Fred Rosetti, Ed.D., had the option of withdrawing from his plea agreement, which U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani rejected earlier this month.
↧
↧
Silver screen gold: Films vie for top honors at 85th Academy Awards
This year’s Oscars race has taken more turns than a school bus driver avoiding road construction. “Argo” is now the front-runner, collecting award after award, with Ben Affleck’s charm entrancing the industry.
↧
Six face drug charges
WRIGHT TOWNSHIP — Wright Township police arrested five people on drug charges following a six-month investigation, authorities announced today. The investigation began with a DUI traffic stop in August 2012. Over the course of the probe, police say six individuals sold marijuana and cocaine to an undercover member of the Luzerne County Drug Task Force in Wright Township and Warrior Run.
↧
Justice Melvin convicted on most corruption charges
PITTSBURGH — Suspended state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin has been convicted of six of seven campaign corruption charges while her sister Janine Orie has been convicted of the six counts she faced.
↧