2-week delay for furloughs at Scott Air Force Base

MASCOUTAH, Ill. (AP) — The Defense Department had decided to delay issuing furlough notices to thousands of civilian workers at Scott Air Force Base in southern Illinois for two weeks.

The Pentagon said Thursday that the delay will give officials time to analyze the impact of a new spending bill on planned budget cuts. Workers were told earlier this week that they would be informed about the furloughs.

Lt. Korey Fratini of the 375th Air Mobility Wing tells the Belleville News-Democrat (http://bit.ly/14gX3iE) that before Thursday, workers were to start taking 22 unpaid vacation days over the next six months.

The air base near Mascoutah (mas-KUU-tuh) employs almost 5,600 civilian workers. Those with safety and security jobs would be exempt.

Estimates show the furloughs will cost the St. Louis region at least $28 million.

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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com