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One of Indiana's largest employers escaped most of the proverbial ax of government budget cuts Thursday, at least for now.\nThe U.S. Defense Department's Base Realignment and Closure Commission voted this week on proposals that recommended closures, additions and realignments to the nation's various military installations. \nThe department proposals originally included cutting nearly 700 jobs at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, which is located 30 miles south of Bloomington, said State Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington. \nAs of Thursday, BRAC will recommend saving 240 positions and cutting 258 positions, according to a memo from Crane. Of the remaining 289 positions, it is not clear how many are slated for cuts.\nWelch credited the Southern Indiana Business Alliance and lawmakers with saving jobs at Crane.\n"We said to the commission, 'Let us help you understand that if you move these jobs, it will not help our country,'" she said. \nThe Pentagon promotes cooperation between the different branches of the military, rather than maintaining exclusive bases, Welch said. Since Crane is already a joint endeavor, BRAC viewed it more favorably.\nThe memo from Crane indicated the jobs lost will be moved to the Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, N.J. The memo also thanked a concerned community for saving the bulk of the positions on the chopping block.\n"This was only possible due to the excellent work, cooperation and support by the State of Indiana, local elected officials, community support and the credible, dedicated work of the SIBA," the memo stated.\nBRAC tweaks are the final stop for line-item changes to the base closure proposals. The commissioners of BRAC must send their report to President George W. Bush by Sept. 8, Welch said. If the president approves the package, it goes to Congress, where legislators vote up or down on the slate of recommendations. \nThe BRAC Committee and staff have been formed to avoid politicizing debates about base closings, Welch said. BRAC proposals are rarely rejected by the president and Congress, according to The Associated Press.\nCrane is not the only base facing change in Indiana. Major votes Thursday included a decision not to bring many expected jobs to Indianapolis' Fort Benjamin Harrison, according to The Associated Press. When the base closings and realignments are final Indianapolis is still expected to be home to around 1,500 new jobs.