Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Navy's plans to consolidate public works departments at three Naval facilities, focusing on: (1) the cost of public works operations before and after consolidation; (2) changes to authorized personnel levels and the impact of consolidation on employee relocation; and (3) the cost of renovating office space at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station to accommodate the new public works center.

GAO found that: (1) in fiscal year (FY) 1991, the last year before consolidation, the Navy spent $83.1 million for public works services at its three Jacksonville locations; (2) the FY 1994 budget estimated $97.3 million for projects after consolidation; (3) the increased cost was the result of a Department of Defense-wide accounting change that was not related to the creation of the public works center; (4) under the new accounting system, the Center will pay for certain expenses that it was not previously required to pay; (5) personnel for public works functions decreased by 19 due to consolidation; and (6) the cost to renovate a building for the public works center was estimated at $1.2 million, and an additional $150,000 was estimated to modify another small building.