New military base report

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - After months of concern over military budget cuts in Massachusetts, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray will release a new report Tuesday, on the economic benefits of the state's military bases.

Lt. Gov. Murray is currently in charge of the administration's efforts to save the state's six military bases, including Westover Air Reserve base in Chicopee and the Barnes Air National Guard base in Westfield, from these federal cuts.

Back in February, Lt. Gov. Murray created the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force after the Department of Defense announced that it was planning on cutting spending by half trillion dollars over the next decade. This would affect about 17 jobs at Westover, and several jobs at Barnes in Westfield.

But the release of Tuesday's report comes a day after a new study found that federal defense and homeland security contracts added about $34 billion to New England's economy, last year. Researchers say that translated into an 85% increase, compared to eight years ago.

Both the Barnes and Westover bases make-up the fifth largest employer in Western Massachusetts.