How much cash do our bases pump into the European economy? Might be nice to have it pump back into our own.

Not as much as you would expect. In fact, because the base doesn't pay any tax but does use local services they tend to be a net money loser overall for towns in the US. Covering the schooling costs of the children of soldiers living on the base is the big killer.

In the US the military pays a special fee to communities to offset the tax loss, but it isn't enough to cover it in full. I dont' know how it really works out in Europe though, I don't know if they pay anything nor do I have any idea how much local services they use.

Jay