NEWBURGH – Off-duty firefighters from the Newburgh city department went door-to-door on Wednesday to explain to city residents why cutting a dozen positions from the budget is a bad idea.
The city manager’s proposed 2020 spending plan also recommends cutting roughly a dozen police officers as well as public works personnel as a means to balance the books.
Firefighters, holding signs seeking community support, are getting the message out to the public that services will suffer with cutbacks.
Union leadership met with city administration this week and identified between $200,000 and $250,000 in savings in the department in an effort to save a couple of those positions, said Local 589 President Brendan Hogan.
The city council will be going over the budget with a fine tooth comb looking to find ways to save jobs and retain services without increasing taxes substantially.
The state comptroller’s office is also reviewing the spending plan with an eye toward making recommendations.
The council will hold a required public hearing to consider exceeding the state-mandated tax cap.
