HINESVILLE, GA -
Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas says his community is trying
to brace itself for the effects of Sequestration, the automatic federal budget
cuts set to take effect Friday. He says Fort Stewart provides a yearly payroll
of about $1.5 Billion dollars, which is for both military and civilian
employees. He says cuts to civilian pay would impact what thousands of families
have to spend at local businesses. "On a frustration level of one to ten,
I am at ten," he told us. "Because none of this has to happen."
Thomas says 2,888 civilians work for the Department of
the Army at Fort Stewart. In addition, there are civilian contractors who work
in a variety of jobs on post. Civilian and contract employees at Fort Stewart
and Hunter Army Airfield that could be impacted number about 7,000 according to
Mayor Thomas and Leah Poole of the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce.
"I don't think most people in the area are aware of
what impacts might be felt if civilians face a 20 percent pay cut which is what
is supposed to happen. Poole says local business leaders are writing yet
another letter to Georgia's congressional delegation asking members of Congress
to come up with a solution.
Meanwhile, Hinesville Chevrolet Dealer Mike Reed says he
thinks some of the effects of the budget cuts may be being blown out of
proportion at the national level. But Reed says one thing business owners in
Hinesville and across the country are tired of is the uncertainty.
"Whatever is going to happen, we just need it to happen so we can try to
move on and deal with it," he says.
