Privatized Housing at Scott Is Latest in No-Cost-to-Government Plan: Scott AFB, Ill., will have 1,593 homes within the first four years of a 50-year deal, with no Air Force money involved, say USAF officials. The Air Force estimates that 45 percent of its family housing needs major improvements or renovations to meet standards set by DOD. The total bill for such an effort would have been close to $6 billion—way beyond the construction budget. The Scott deal brings the total number of homes under privatization plans to more than 16,000—about one-third of the homes needed. At this rate, officials expect to have another 13 projects closed at 19 bases by December 2006.
We looked back on the past 12 months to find the stories that resonated the most with you, our audience, and these 10 topped the list. Maybe you missed one the first time around, or perhaps you’d like to revisit a favorite.