Potential Fort Carson cuts could impact Pueblo County

Potential cuts at the Mountain Post won’t only affect Colorado Springs but also Pueblo according to two southern Colorado groups.

The Army needs to cut its force structure by at least 40,000 active duty soldiers and is looking at potentially cutting 16,000 jobs at Fort Carson.

The Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance said Pueblo County could take a $96,000 hit in sales tax revenue if the cuts happen.

Marvin Stein is vice chairman of the Colorado Thirties Group, a nonprofit that communicates between Colorado communities and military bases in the state. He said more than 600 families in the county could be affected.

“We are losing members of our family, just the same as we lost them clear back in World War II when we had the air base in Pueblo. Some of those original people are still in Pueblo. Anything we lose is a loss of family,” Stein said.

Pentagon leaders are about halfway through visiting 30 Army posts where cuts are being considered. A decision isn’t expected for several months.