Economics of Expansion - Segment 4 - Economic Lessons from the 1983 Creation of PCMS

Economic Lessons from the 1983 Creation of PCMS

In 1981 the Army estimated the creation of PCMS would bring $1 to $5 million of salary revenue to Southeastern Colorado.  The actual salaries paid at PCMS since 1983 are less than $220,000 annually. The Army estimated $68 million would be spent on construction at PCMS.  A local contractor estimates that less than $1 million of this was spent in Southeastern Colorado. Today the Army estimates $9 million annual input and a one-time $140 million construction project from PCMS expansion.  Will history repeat itself?  In 1983 the Army promised Las Animas County “payment in lieu of property taxes” on the 250,000 acre original taking.  26 years later payment in lieu of taxes has never been fully funded.  In the 1980’s the Army promised to buy materials and supplies from local communities for maneuvers at PCMS.  The Army spent 2.5 million on their most recent training maneuver at PCMS.  This money stayed in the Ft. Carson vicinity, none was spent in Southeastern Colorado.

“Fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice, shame on us.”