NAPLES, Italy — A 10 percent "cost savings" on transportation funding could mean fewer shuttle buses between the Navy bases in Naples, according on an internal Navy e-mail sent out last week.
In the e-mail, Kym Scott, head of the Base Support Vehicles & Equipment office, told department heads and supervisors that Commander Navy Region Europe has "dictated a 10% cost savings."
"Unfortunately, I have to cut $300,000," Scott wrote in the Dec. 15 e-mail that was leaked to Stars and Stripes. "The decision has been made to reduce the shuttle bus service ... to reduce vehicles and to reduce services."
When reached via telephone, Scott declined to talk about the cuts or the e-mail.
Navy officials also would not comment on the e-mail directly.
However, Navy Region Europe spokesman Scott Campbell said there are no planned budget cuts. "Some of the bases are cost efficient enough to where this may not impact them at all," said Campbell, who described the funding reductions as a "cost adjustment" to compensate for the possibility of higher utility bills.
Kelly Burdick, spokeswoman for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe Southwest Asia, said funding and requirements are continually evaluated to maximize effective use of a program budget.
Burdick said there would be "minimal, if any, impact to shuttle services."
Currently, the shuttle bus between Capodochino and Gricignano in Naples runs 16 times each weekday, with limited service to the NATO base.
Any reduction in service would begin next month, according to Scott’s e-mail.
The e-mail also listed the number of vehicles to be turned in from several Naples-based departments including security, operations and the fire department, along with regional offices to include the supply and telecommunications commands.
One official, who received the e-mail but did not want to be identified, said their department was already notified to turn in vehicles.
There was no indication if transportation services would be cut from bases in Rota, Spain; Sigonella, Sicily; or Souda Bay, Crete.
