MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Postal Service said more than 200 Minnesota employees will be affected by its consolidation of mail processing operations as it deals with a ballooning deficit.

The Postal Service said Thursday it will move processing from Duluth and Rochester to St. Paul and processing operations in St. Cloud, Mankato and Bemidji to Minneapolis.

Postal Service spokesman Pete Nowacki said about 230 positions will be affected in Minnesota and attempts will be made to reassign employees to vacant positions or other facilities.