Hold on a minute ...
Winders was the first one down here to point this out, but it now appears that some folks are questioning the cost-effectiveness of BRAC's latest round of closings, including the Naval Supply School here in Athens-Clarke County.
In 2005, the commission suggested changes or closings to 222 bases across the country, but in just two short years costs have skyrocketed to the tune of $8 billion for the entire project. Locally, it's going to cost roughly $18 million more to shut down the Naval Supply School, which is making a lot of folks think twice about this thing.
New Jersey's two senators are proposing that any base closing which costs have gone up 25 percent or more be re-evaluated.
The following is from the Courier-Post's article and cited by Winders ...
The Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Ga., has faced a similar situation, according to retired Navy Capt. George Huban, a former school commandant.
Costs to close the school and move it to Newport, R.I., have increased about $18 million since it was approved in 2005. Huban said he and a group of volunteers tried to tell the BRAC commission the estimates were too low, but to no avail.
Huban said the increased estimate from $23.8 million to $41.9 million, a 76 percent jump should cause the government to pause. "Reasonable people would say if you're outside of the cost bounds by a particular amount, wouldn't it make sense to take a breath and say, 'Does it make sense?"' he said.
If this thing was being done to save the military costs, is it feasible to proceed?
And, if not, what does the University of Georgia do next? Or, for that matter, the collection of non-profits that have banded together to form the Athens Resource Center for the Homeless?
In 2005, the commission suggested changes or closings to 222 bases across the country, but in just two short years costs have skyrocketed to the tune of $8 billion for the entire project. Locally, it's going to cost roughly $18 million more to shut down the Naval Supply School, which is making a lot of folks think twice about this thing.
New Jersey's two senators are proposing that any base closing which costs have gone up 25 percent or more be re-evaluated.
The following is from the Courier-Post's article and cited by Winders ...
The Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Ga., has faced a similar situation, according to retired Navy Capt. George Huban, a former school commandant.
Costs to close the school and move it to Newport, R.I., have increased about $18 million since it was approved in 2005. Huban said he and a group of volunteers tried to tell the BRAC commission the estimates were too low, but to no avail.
Huban said the increased estimate from $23.8 million to $41.9 million, a 76 percent jump should cause the government to pause. "Reasonable people would say if you're outside of the cost bounds by a particular amount, wouldn't it make sense to take a breath and say, 'Does it make sense?"' he said.
If this thing was being done to save the military costs, is it feasible to proceed?
And, if not, what does the University of Georgia do next? Or, for that matter, the collection of non-profits that have banded together to form the Athens Resource Center for the Homeless?
posted by Jmac at 7:07 AM
4 Comments:
A couple of observations without regard to the specific NSCS relocation:
Government estimates (local, state, or federal) of what anything will cost are notoriously inaccurate - and almost always on the low side.
The problem with shutting down any government program or moving any facility is that everyone is all in favor of cutting costs, as long as someone else bears the brunt of the cut. As soon as the ABC program or XYZ facility is slated to be cut or moved, local officials, state legislators, congressmen, etc., all mobilize to fight or delay the cut or move - and the cost invariably goes up.
Hey J-Mag,
As a loyal reader of this here blog I sure would love it if you stopped calling the military base on Prince Ave the "Naval" Supply Corps School. Reading that is like nails on a chalkboard because it's just not quite right. Make my day and refer to it as the Navy Supply Corps School or NSCS. Or not. I won't stop reading. You just won't make my day.
Keep up the good work!
Sort of like term limits.
I think they are a really good idea for your congressman.
By comparison, business shuts down facilities all the time without much problem.
The Navy School is a nice facility, and the people there are nice people, but as a "plant" it is pretty small compared to some industries that have packed up and left the state, or not located here in the first place.
Fair enough, and thanks for the clarification.
In exchange, can you call me 'Jmac' and not 'J-Mag' ... makes me sound like a 1980s private eye (which, frankly, would be kinda cool).
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