Budget constraints have impacted the Postal Service’s ability to fund repairs, alterations, and capital improvements, the USPS inspector general has found.
It said that from fiscal 2009 – 2012, financial challenges have led to a $382million decrease in the budget to facilities for maintenance.
In fiscal 2012, USPS spent $266 million (29 percent) below the industry average on facility repairs, over a dollar less per square foot. As a result, in fiscal 2011 and 2012, facilities did not complete 19,033 repairs (18 percent) estimated to cost $271 million, according to the IG.
It said half of those incomplete repairs represented safety, security, and potential future major repairs, and future costs for these unfunded repairs could reach $1.4 billion.
Postal management agreed with recommendations to develop a strategy and reallocate funds to complete repairs and establish written procedures to accurately classify repairs and reconcile prioritization lists annually.
