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Many Marylanders Support Hard Options For Overhauling The USPS

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Some hard options for overhauling the U.S. Postal Service apparently have the support of most Americans.

Pat Warren has the results of a recent survey many hope will help steer Congress in the right direction.

The USPS is reporting a $5.1 billion net loss for 2015. It's been an ongoing problem. Now a new survey is asking Americans how they think it should be dealt with.

Marylanders don't want to see their local post offices close.

"I think it's horrible because I depend on this every day," one woman said.

But what could you do without?

"Should the Postal Service be able to act more like a business?" asked Steven Kull, University of Maryland public consultation program.

The Postal Service has struggled for years with a deficit caused in part by a decline in first class delivery, but largely attributed to a federal mandate of 75 years of upfront funding for retiree benefits.

"Basically, 8 in 10 said, came to the conclusion that the Postal Service should not have this requirement," said Kull.

Another option is to end Saturday delivery, and the survey said...

"It's not that they like the idea, but when they see the big picture and the problems that the Postal Service is facing, they think that's probably a good way to go," Kull said.

The bright spot is that online package delivery is up 50 percent from five years ago, and this has helped lower losses. That helped land the majority in favor of lifting that mandate.

A vast majority of Marylanders also believe the USPS should be allowed to operate as other businesses, with perhaps new services like Internet and photocopying or to sublease its spaces.

USPS continues to press for relief from retirement pre-funding, which Congress put in place so if the Postal Service did go bust, taxpayers wouldn't have to foot that bill.

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