Beat a retreat.

• Position: Eastern - Army prepares for budget cuts - Brief article - Statistical data

As the U.S. winds down two wars and tries to trim spending, the Army prepares for budget cuts. It recently released a report detailing the potential economic impact of a 14% reduction in Fort Bragg's troop strength and civilian workforce by 2020 on Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett and Moore counties. Sales-tax revenue, home values, population and employment would suffer, though strained education and transportation would benefit. The losses could reverse a trend of growth at the base--its workforce increased 32.4% between fiscal 2003 and 2011--that spurred population increases in the four counties.

$41,830

Average annual salary of jobs that would be cut

20,144

Number of people who might leave, including the 8,000 workers and their dependents.

1, 357 to 2,584

Additional non-Army jobs in the four counties that could be lost.

$21.3 million to $24.7 million

State sales-tax revenue lost from people leaving the state

Source: Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Army 2020 Force Structure...