Communities struggle with infrastructure needs

[unhappycamper]

Communities struggle with infrastructure needs
By Brian Witte - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Feb 5, 2009 16:33:45 EST

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Like most states on the receiving end of big military base moves, leaders in Maryland crowed four years ago when the Pentagon announced thousands of jobs would be transferred to the Aberdeen Proving Ground from Fort Monmouth, N.J.

“Having won the battle of Monmouth vs. Aberdeen, we are in good shape now,” said Aris Melissaratos, who was Maryland’s secretary of economic development at the time and had testified as the military weighed its decision that Maryland is “ready to handle any expansion that is bestowed upon us.”

That was 2005, back when communities that lost out in the reshuffling could take solace that the overall economy was strong.

Now, in the grip of recession, the big winners are scrambing to pay for the growth expected over the next two years in the most recent round of what the Department of Defense calls “base realignment and closure,” or BRAC.

Topping local concerns are the costs of building roads, schools and water and sewer systems for an influx of commuters and families uprooted from other bases.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_brac_infrastructure_020509w/%2e