Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan was well within her rights to cancel the town paramedic service’s participation in a state police medevac program, and given the town’s fiscal plight, she may have even been wise to do so.

But the political reality of the situation, which has become increasingly apparent since Mahan announced her decision early this summer, is that the program is popular — not just with the paramedics who participate in it but with many town residents. There is also a significant difference of opinion as to whether the service loses, or makes, money for the cash-strapped town. Thus the town board’s decision Thursday night, to continue participation through the end of this year, while an independent audit and straw poll sorts out the fundamental questions of whether the program makes or loses money, and how many town residents really support it, was the right one.

Still, there are a couple of concerns. First, the audit: Will it really be an independent one if it’s being paid for by the union that represents the paramedics? It’s OK that the union has offered to pay for the study, but Mahan should be allowed to sign off on the selection of the auditor.

Second, the opinion poll: There’s no point in doing one until the audit is complete and the “facts” are in. The town is $18 million in the hole and, one way or the other, residents are likely to be asked to cover that deficit through higher taxes at some point in the near future. Whether they support a program that benefits them only marginally and is clearly not essential (the state police will simply hook up with other paramedics if Colonie’s are no longer available) may well hinge on whether the program costs the town big bucks (as Mahan has suggested) or generates them (as the paramedics say).

So get an audit under way soon, get it finished in time for Election Day, then ask voters what they think when they go to the polls. This has unfortunately become a highly politicized issue, so secret ballots are preferred. People may sign a petition when asked by a neighbor, but they can be expected to vote their true feelings in the privacy of the polling booth. Putting the question on this year’s ballot is also cost-free, while printing and mailing a questionnaire to all town residents would surely cost thousands.