ATLANTA — The U.S. Postal Service could close about a dozen mail processing facilities in Georgia as part of a nationwide cost-cutting effort as it struggles with finances.

The Georgia facilities are among 252 mail processing facilities across the nation that will be reviewed over the next three months for possible closing.

They are in Acworth, Albany, Athens, Augusta, Cartersville, Columbus, Douglasville, Marietta, Savannah, Swainsboro, Valdosta and Waycross.

The Postal Service is looking at consolidating operations as part of its nationwide effort to trim costs at the financially strapped agency.

Postal officials say their studies will be finished in early 2012 and that it's too soon to say how many jobs might be affected.