Jobs are up even as local economic impacts dip by $500 million for Albuquerque's Kirtland Air Force Base.
The Albuquerque Journal reports 2014 impact data from the financial analysis office of the 377th Comptroller Squadron shows the base contributed $7.6 billion to the Albuquerque economy, about 3.1 percent less than predicted.
Base commander Col. Eric Froehlich said during a meeting of community leaders Tuesday that the base is up by 774 jobs, mostly at federally contracted Sandia National Labs.
He said economic impacts are likely down due to automatic budget cuts in 2013 that kicked in when Congress couldn't agree on how to reduce debt.
Froehlich said the cuts limited improvements to facilities and infrastructure.
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