U.S. Post Office: Cut It or Keep It?

Rain, sleet and snow might not daunt workers at the U.S. Postal Service, but record losses in the billions just might.

According to a Huffington Post story, the beleaguered U.S. Postal Service is discussing the need to pull back on services in the coming year. Specifically, the Postal Service is discussing the idea of delaying delivery of first-class mail. This means that Palm Harbor residents could see a delay in arrival on everything from regular letters and mail-order prescriptions to Netflix DVDs and magazines.

The Huffington Post story says roughly 42 percent of first-class mail enjoys next-day delivery. The rest arrives within three days.

The Postal Service has faced five years of losses in a row. Right now it’s projecting a record $14.1 billion loss for next year as it continues to see a steady decline in the volume of first-class mail as a result of other delivery options.

The Postal Service is . Two post offices in Pinellas County are on the list, but neither of them is in Palm Harbor.

In September, outside U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis' office on U.S. 19.

Bilirakis told Palm Harbor Patch, "The U.S. Postal Service is faced with extreme financial difficulties, and structural changes are necessary to allow it to operate efficiently and profitably again. I am listening to and working with all parties to help protect jobs while ensuring that our nation’s mail service goes uninterrupted. Americans deserve an efficient postal service that delivers for decades.”