Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus came to the Newburgh main firehouse on Tuesday to urge city officials to spend the $536,000 in additional sales tax revenue he gave them to fund the 12 firefighters who are to be laid off in July when federal funding expires.
The county exec said the money would be more than enough to pay for the men through the end of the year.
“One of the shortfalls we see is with the firefighters," Neuhaus said. " It’s about $400,000 plus. We just presented a check for $536,000. The City of Newburgh could utilize that money that they have gotten in the sales tax revenues to keep those firefighters rather than lay them off and work on the fire protection.”
Acting Chief Terry Ahlers would like to see the men stay on the job, but he understands the reality of Newburgh’s financial situation.