Newburgh City officials congratulated themselves last week after an audit report declared that the city is in a stronger financial position that it has been in recent years.

The auditor reported that the city currently has a budget surplus of $10.3 million and a total fund balance of $22 million. That’s good news.

It had been suggested that many municipalities emerged from the pandemic in a stronger financial position than before. The pandemic forced cancellation of assorted events like parades and the Newburgh Illuminated Festival that often result in police overtime and numerous recreation activities that require staffing. And revenues grew after the pandemic closures with the issue of more permits.

A better financial picture is also the result of some difficult decisions, including some that may come back and haunt those decision makers.

A kitchen fire, last week, on Lander Street killed one person and injured another. The local firefighter’s union (IAFF Local 589) bluntly suggested that staff cuts to their department hampered a response that might have saved that life. A union statement specifically cited the closure of Engine Company No. 1 at Grand Street, ordered by the City manager on Jan 15, 2022, because “primarily due to layoffs in 2020 and injuries, staffing this company often requires overtime.”

Closures and layoffs mean a smaller force responds to fires and greater reliance on mutual aide from out-of-town fire companies that will take longer to respond. A slower response gives the fire a chance to grow beyond control, putting more lives at risk.

While we can all appreciate sound fiscal decisions, we understand they come at a price. If the price is in the form of an understaffed first response - or worse - it is too great a price.