WTHR |Post office facilities facing closure cut to 413

Post office facilities facing closure cut to 413

Washington - The Postal Service has narrowed the number of offices facing possible closure to 413.

Struggling with a sharp decline in mail volume caused by the recession and the movement of traditional mail to the Internet, postal officials say the agency could have a deficit as large as $7 billion this year.

Being on the list doesn't guarantee closing, but the list of offices selected for a closer look had neared 700 at one point. Currently the post office has about 37,000 retail outlets across the country and Postmaster General John Potter has said he wants to keep as many open as possible.

In addition to losses caused by reductions in mail volume, the post office is required to place $5 billion annually in an account to pre-fund the costs of medical care for retirees.

If it does end the fiscal year at the end of this month short of funds, postal officials have said they will default on that payment in order to make payroll and keep the agency operating. In the meantime, Congress is considering bills that would defer the payment.

The post office has also suggested reducing mail delivery from six to five days a week. Other money saving steps it has taken include:

- Cut more than 100 million work hours, the equivalent of 57,000 positions.

- Six district administrative offices have closed.

- Nearly 12,000 carrier routes have been eliminated as routes were adjusted to reflect reduced volume.

- There is a nationwide hiring freeze.

- Staff levels at national and regional offices cut by 15 percent.

- Selling unused and underutilized postal facilities.

- Post Office hours have been cut.

- Consolidating mail processing operations.

- Halting construction of new postal facilities.

- Salaries of Postal Service officers and executives are frozen.

List of offices that may close

Indiana branches listed by the post office for possible closing:

Evansville North Park Finance 4490 First Avenue 47710-9998
Fort Wayne-Diplomat Plaza-Sta 4171 Diplomat Plaza Center 46806-9998
Fort Wayne-Waynedale-Fin Sta 7025 Old Trail Rd 46809-9998
Gary-Brunswick-Sta 5325 W 5th Ave 46406-9998
Gary-Downtown Finance-Fin Sta 115 W 5th Ave 46402-9998
Gary-Lake Station-Br 2901 Central Ave 46405-9998
IN Gary Gary-Miller-Sta 518 S Hancock 46403-9998
IN Indianapolis Indianapolis-Bridgeport-Fin Br 8804 W. Washington St. 46231-9998
IN Indianapolis Indianapolis-Circle City-Sta 456 N Meridian St 46204-9998
IN Indianapolis Indianapolis-West Indianapolis Fin Sta 1144 S. Belmont St. 46221-9998
IN South Bend South Bend Olive Street Sta 150 S Olive St 46619-9998
KS Kansas City Kck