By: Jessica Rae
jrae@kcautv.com
For 150 years the United States Postal Service has been delivering mail Monday through Saturday, but today, it announced a big change.
Facing a mountain of red ink the United States Postal Service is making some big changes to save a little green.
The biggest change, say goodbye to mail deliveries on Saturday.
When you consider the Postal Service is facing almost $16 billion in debt, some folks understand the need for change.
Sioux City resident, Suzette Occhibone says, "I think basically we all have to bite the bullet a little bit, with the economy the way it is, so maybe it will change in the future."
Sioux City resident, Vernon Junge says, "Well in my opinion its about time they quit."
As part of this new plan starting August 5th the Postal Service will continue to deliver packages on Saturday, but it will no longer collect and deliver letters and other first class mail.
That's expected to save the Postal Service about $2 billion a year.
That's only a drop in the bucket, and that has some Siouxlanders wondering why one, but not the other.
Jim Cunningham from Sioux City, says, "If you're going to deliver packages, then just don't deliver other mail also."
If you're worried about jobs, don't, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says there will be no layoffs. Instead he plans to eliminate overtime, offer buyouts, and rely more on the part time workforce.
If you're wondering how this change will impact your local post office the Postal Service says if your local office is open on Saturdays now, it will continue to stay that way after the August changes.
