Spending cuts mean local uncertainty

FAIRBORN, Ohio (WDTN) - Those federal budget cuts known as sequestration are expected to hit the Miami Valley hard.

The President just authorized the beginning of $85 billion in federal spending cuts late Friday night.

It would mean thousands of civilian workers here at Wright Patterson Air Force Base could be forced to take 22 unpaid furlough days.

"I'm looking at that young mother who is a single parent and knowing she's going to endure a 20% pay cut.  For some of us, we are more easily going to be able to absorb that.  For her, it's just rally going to be rough," says Jene Curell, Chief of Installation Protocol.

Air Force Officials tell us these furloughs could start as early as April.  The base is still waiting to hear from the Department of Defense on the specifics.  In the meantime, the base is planning for a 10-15% reduction in budget.

And this means military members may have to carry the extra workload.

"Military members are going to have to step up to work a little bit extra long hours more days.  So, I feel that they might feel a little bit of rash of that but we are military, that's what we are trained to do," explains Tech Sgt. Holly Vaught.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is also anticipating furloughs.  The museum is run completely by civilian workers.  That means 95 employees could be impacted and some events would have to canceled due to lack of staff.

"Our job here is to tell the story of our United States Air Force to the public and to inspire our youth the best that we can. And so, we'd like to be able to keep our doors open 7 days a week if we possibly can," comments Retired Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, Director of the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Also being canceled, the Thunderbirds entire 2013 season, beginning April first due to the sequester, according to a statement from the Air Force.  The Dayton Vectren Air Show will still go on without the popular attraction.

But the surrounding community is still bracing for impact.

Hairport Hair Dressers in Fairborn expects a decrease in business because of the cuts and people with possibly less money to spend.    

"They're going to cut back and wait longer between haircuts and colors and perms," says Connie Finton.

And, we've learned that here in the Miami Valley alone, nearly 300 kids will have to be dropped from Head Start due to the cuts and 45 staff members will be laid off..

It's still unknown exactly when local Head Starts will see these reductions.

"Everything we do in Head Start and Early Head Start leads to that school readiness. These children who lose this service are going to lose that opportunity," explains Barbara Haxton with the Ohio Head Start Association.