As announced on Jan. 19, Congressman Mike Michaud has sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta highlighting the good work being done in Limestone at the Maine Military Authority (MMA). Michaud urged Secretary Panetta to consider the high quality, cost-efficient and diverse work done at MMA as he looks at ways to trim military budgets in the years ahead.
“Our massive budget deficits require our country to cut costs and save money wherever we can,” said Michaud. “The workers in Limestone do an outstanding job at refurbishing vehicles at a lower cost than facilities in other parts of the country. MMA’s commitment to timely, high-quality, low-cost work has saved the National Guard alone more than $1 billion so far, and broader use of its services could result in greater savings for the Department of Defense.”
Among MMA’s positive attributes cited by Michaud in the letter, the senator identified cost savings afforded through the Limestone business. “The average cost for a refurbished HMMWV is $45,000-$50,000, compared to $140,000 for a new vehicle,” the letter reads. “Since the National Guard began relying on this program 15 years ago, they have saved more than $1 billion.”
