EVERETT — The U.S. Postal Service plans to hold a public meeting to talk about a proposal to shut down a mail processing facility in Everett.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Snohomish County PUD Building at 2320 California St.
The closure would likely mean Everett-area mail customers could no longer expect next-day delivery in Western Washington.
The center also employs 290 people, and it’s not clear what would happen to those jobs.
The facility in Everett, located at 8120 Hardeson Road, processes outgoing letters and parcels mailed in the city. Businesses also drop off bulk mail at a walk-up counter.
The Postal Service is studying whether to consolidate its operations at 252 locations across the country, including Everett, to help stave off financial disaster.
The Postal Service, which is self-supporting, is on the verge of financial collapse. Last year, it had revenue of $67 billion and expenses of $75 billion.
The closings and service changes could save the Postal Service as much as $3 billion annually. It’s trying to cut a total of $6.5 billion.
The Postal Service cites the deep decline in mail volume as the reason for consolidating some facilities.
The National Association of Letter Carriers contends a primary reason is a requirement mandated by Congress that the Postal Service pre-fund its future retiree health benefits.
At the meeting, Postal Service managers plan to give an overview for the reasons for the proposal and its possible outcomes and will listen to concerns and input, according to a prepared statement.
The Postal Service expects to make a decision about the Everett facility early next year.
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197; dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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