Main Street Mail Processing Center May Close

North Reading is one of seven cities and towns in Massachusetts that may lose a mail processing center next year due to budget-cuts. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is looking to make approximately $3 billion in reductions by closing more than 250 processing centers across the country and laying off 30,000 workers.

“That is still being considered for possible consolidation. We haven’t taken any action on that yet,” said Communications Program Specialist for the Greater Boston Postal District Dennis Tarmey of the . 

Yesterday's announcement caused people to think that the facilities are closing, but it's a long process and part of that process is to have a public meeting, said Tarmey. 

Without help from Congress, USPS could be forced to make cuts to avoid bankruptcy. Closing the processing centers will cause mail delivery to slow down, making it almost impossible for letters to make it from one location to another in one day. 

The other cities and towns that may be affected in Massachusetts are in Boston, Brockton, Lowell, Shrewsbury, Waltham and Wareham.

According to the , the changes may help in the short term, but would direct a larger slice of America's business to the internet. The new delivery speed may prevent you from receiving checks, Netflix DVDs, prescriptions, time sensitive magazines and newspapers on time.

As we , the issue was ultimately caused by a decline in business. People do not mail as many items as they once did. According to USPS, they have closed 186 facilities already and have removed 1,500 pieces of mail processing equipment over the last five years. As mail volume continues to decline, USPS has to conform.

What do you think about the possiblity of the mail processing center closing? Let us know in the comments section below.