Congress could reconvene the Base Closure and Realignment Commission to help cut $487 billion from military spending over the next decade.
That could result in military base shutdowns. Albany officials want to protect the Marine Corps Logistics Base.
"The base that we have here is an area base. We have people who drive from miles and miles from many other counties that come to work here. So this is not an Albany-Dougherty County issue. It involves all of the metro area plus many other counties around us," said Albany Chamber of Commerce Interim President/CEO Bob McKinney.
The logistics base survived the past five BRAC closure rounds, the latest in 2005, and local officials are already meeting to discuss the issue.
"We communicate to congress and to the folks that make decisions on growing bases or reducing, funding for bases that they understand how important our marine base is and how important it is to the war fighters," said Dougherty County Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard.
"It's one of our most important employers. We stay connected with it all the time and we as a chamber stays connected with it," said McKinney.
Congress won't make a final decision on whether to reconvene BRAC until later this year, but local leaders think we have nothing to worry about.
"I would be surprised if a BRAC is approved this year. Quite frankly it just doesn't make sense," said Sinyard.
"Times are not how they were in 2005. They'll be a lot of talented men and women looking at the impact of what BRAC means and I don't think it'll happen this year to be honest with you," said McKinney.
But they want to be ready, just in case.
Back in 2005, Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem were the two Georgia bases that were cut by BRAC.
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