Automatic budget cuts promise severe blow to Oklahoma workers, economy
BY CHRIS CASTEEL NewsOK.com
Monday, February 18, 2013
2/18/13 at 5:33 AM
WASHINGTON - Federal spending cuts set to be triggered on March 1 would mean 16,000 Air Force civilians in Oklahoma could be furloughed, mostly at Tinker Air Force Base, depriving those workers of nearly $125 million in pay over six months, Air Force officials said.
The impact on Oklahoma, which has three Air Force bases, would be second only to Texas, where the payroll hit would top $127 million.
Should across-the-board cuts, known as the sequester, go into effect, furloughs would likely begin in mid-April, military leaders told Congress last week. Some workers may be furloughed as many as 22 days between April and Sept. 30. That would amount to a 20 percent pay cut during that timeframe, according to the Air Force's top uniformed leader.
In addition to the furloughs, about $20 million in scheduled work to maintain or modernize Air Force bases in Oklahoma would be canceled.
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Original Print Headline: March 1 cuts stir ill wind for state
ccasteel@opubco.com
