FORT LEE, Va. (WTVR) -- The garrison commander at Fort Lee is facing some tough decisions after military budget cuts mandated by Congress -- and looming sequestration.
Colonel Rodney Edge told CBS 6 News senior reporter Wayne Covil Tuesday that he and other leaders on the post have been working towards solutions, but understand the effects budget cuts and sequestration pose.
In fact, civilian employees could lose 20 percent of their paychecks.
That has folks in the communities surrounding Fort Lee worried entertainment, restaurants and automotive repair shops will feel a trickle-down effect if thousands find their paychecks cut.
Glenda Minglowski, who works at Captain Tom's restaurant, said she is very worried since a lot of her customers are associated with the post.
Fort Lee has seen a seven-year expansion that cost taxpayers more than $1 billion due to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's 2005 decision to kept the Army post open and move other units there.
"Somethings are going to have to be sacrificed to make sure we meet or work within the budget uncertainties," Edge said.
Last year, Fort Lee's economic impact to Central Virginia was $2.2 billion. But that could drastically change with budget cuts affecting those in uniform -- and sequestration affecting thousands of Department of Defense civilian jobs.
Stay with WTVR.com and CBS 6 News for the latest on this developing story.
