Postal Service Expected to Cut Saturday Mail Delivery

Story by Tara Conry

The United States Postal Service may soon stop delivering mail on Saturdays in an attempt to save roughly $2 billion per year.

The struggling USPS is expected to unveil a plan Wednesday that includes reducing mail delivery to five days a week, Monday to Friday, according to CNN Money.

The change would go into effect Aug. 1 and only impact first-class mail. Packages, mail-order medicines, priority and express mail would still get delivered on Saturdays, according to CBS News.

Post offices would still remain open on Saturdays, reports the Huffington Post.

Although the Postal Service "receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations," as stated on its website, it is governed by Congress, and had been hoping members would pass legislation to help lessen its financial burdens.

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"It's unclear at the moment how the Postal Service has the authority to quit delivering letters on Saturdays. Previously, they've said they need Congress to change current law to do so," reports CNN Money.

Two CNN sources confirmed the plan to stop Saturday delivery of letters and other first class mail starting Aug. 1. Packages would still be delivered on Saturdays. More details about the plan should be revealed later this morning when the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service meets in open session at Postal Service headquarters in Washington, DC. Following the meeting, Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe and Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett will host a telephone/web conference call at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the financial results in more detail.

Various news reports say the Postal Service needs tens of billions of dollars to be saved. In July 2011, the Postal Service announced the closure of 3,600 post offices across the country in an effort to save money. (Its location in Garden City was not affected).

Last month, it also increased stamp prices, from 45 cents to 46 cents, to mail one-ounce letters.

Would you miss having Saturday mail delivery? Let us know in the comments.