Estimate to close sub base $400M off
By RAY HACKETT
Norwich Bulletin
The Government Accountability Office has determined the Navy overestimated the long-term cost savings of closing the Groton submarine base by $400 million.
The "error" was discovered after a further review of the Defense Department cost factors related to Groton. It was reported Aug. 10 to independent Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission Chairman Anthony Principi.
David Walker, comptroller general of the United States, noted in the letter the Navy did not use accurate figures in determining its cost analysis of the base closure and miscalculated the number of billets -- civilian and military positions -- to be eliminated in its initial calculations.
"Our analysis showed that the 20-year net present value savings decreased from $1.6 billion to $1.2 billion, and the pay-back period increased from three to four years," Walker wrote.
The GAO called into question some of the Pentagon assumptions in its initial July 1 report to the BRAC commission. The closer look at the Navy's projections regarding Groton came as a result of BRAC commission questions during a July 18 hearing in Washington.
The latest discovery of flawed projections comes as the commission nears the beginning of its final deliberations next week, and amid strong criticism from commissioners over Pentagon savings projections that appear inflated. In a New York Times interview during the weekend, eight of the nine commission members said they don't trust the Defense Department projections and would rely on the commission staff's independent review of the Pentagon data.
"These findings by the GAO are yet another independent confirmation that the Pentagon's numbers simply don't add up," U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., said Monday.
Connecticut officials contend closing Groton will result in a 20-year net loss to taxpayers of $640 million.