With the economy falling and people worrying about layoffs, rumors have begun circulating about the postal service laying off people and closing down the Bastrop Post Office.

According to rumors heard throughout the nation, the United States Postal Service will be laying off 40,000 employees. Another is mail will not be delivered on Saturdays any longer.

The Bastrop Post Office supervisor believes these rumors stem from the announcement that the U.S. Postal Service had a net loss of $2.8 billion at the conclusion of its 2008 fiscal year.

The USPS website announced on Nov. 12 that a news story received national attention for a statement that the Postal Service would begin laying off 40,000 employees soon. The website said “this story is not accurate.”

The story originated out of Shreveport, which is the main office for the Bastrop office. A spokesperson with the Postal Service was also quoted but is said to have been “in error.”

“There are no anticipated layoffs,” McKinney Boyd with USPS Louisiana said. “The Postal Service has offered early retirement to those who are eligible. This has been ongoing for the last four weeks.”

The website verified this saying the only efforts to reduce employees was with voluntary early retirements. Several employees have been offered this, but on Nov. 12 only 3,685 had accepted the offer.

According to the Bastrop supervisor, the Postal Service has placed a hiring freeze and cut overtime.

“We expect the new fiscal year to be another difficult one for the Postal Service and the entire mailing industry, as economic factors will continue to reduce mail volume and increase expenses,” Postmaster General John Potter told the Postal Service Board of Governors. “As we continue to reduce work hours and other costs, our top priority remains providing excellent service to our customers. The combination of excellent service and affordable prices makes Postal products a great value.”

Bastrop residents should not worry about the local post office closing either.

“We’re definitely not closing,” the Bastrop supervisor said. “It’s just a rumor.”

Boyd also wanted to clear up the rumor about a five day a week mail delivery.

“It’s not true.”