Post offices in Tensed, De Smet could close in cost-saving proposal

Twenty-three post offices in Idaho are among 677 post offices in the United States that may close as part of cost cutting measures proposed by the USPS to the U.S. Government Post Regulatory Commission.

The proposal includes post offices in Tensed and De Smet. There are none on the list from Kootenai County.

The hearing, titled "Making Sense of It All: An Examination of USPS's Station and Branch Optimization Initiative and Delivery Route Adjustments" heard that the Postal Service is expected to lose approximately $7.1 billion by the end of FY 2009.

The USPS proposed to cut these losses through a combination of post office closures, price increases and other efficiency drives.

Not helping the USPS is a drop in mail volume caused by consumers' switch to online for information previously received by mail, and recession-hit companies looking to reduce their mail volume by emailing accounts, according to a

The proposed cuts are expected to save $1 billion annually. The "Post Office closing list" contains post offices that have been "identified" for full study for closure, meaning that all might not close.