Pictured is a rendering of a proposed amphitheater in Memorial Park, which was part of the city of Dunkirk’s proposal to New York state for the $10 million grant.

If there is any lasting wisdom from the past decade of government overspending in Western New York, which included the controversial and troubling Buffalo Billions, it is this: no matter how much public funding is thrown at development, until you fix the root of the problem, things will not get better.

High-taxing Chautauqua County is eons away from learning that lesson. Cultivated by an overly generous Albany, massive amounts of aid keep 10 of 18 undersized school districts operating and American Rescue Plan Act windfalls gave municipal governments a bloated sense of security.

State Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement in late January that Dunkirk won the $10 million prize for a Downtown Revitalization Initiative had the right ingredients. A waterfront with plenty of potential is someday going to be the engine that gives the city’s desolate downtown a rebirth.

When that actually happens remains unclear. Dunkirk, like many state entities, often cannot get out of its own way.

Petty council squabbles over potholes with personal grudges and disputes over mayoral hirings during the last four years add up to pennies when it comes to the massive $26 million budget for a city of 12,600 residents. No one currently elected wants to address the inflated elephant of expenses.

That is why the $10 million from New York state offers a glimmer of hope for downtown. But it is far from enough.

Earlier this week, an online survey for residents and key stakeholders of the city reached a deadline. For those who did take part, it was passive, simple, unsophisticated and offered little insight on how to move Dunkirk forward.

Some of the questions in the expired survey included:

¯ What types of houses are needed in the city? Single-family, senior or apartment?

¯ What are the downtown priorities? Attracting residents, education, housing or supporting business?

¯ What types of businesses should be downtown? Bakeries, groceries, health care, bars, restaurants or retail stores?

¯ Describe how you would characterize Dunkirk today?

¯ In 15 years, what do you think Dunkirk will look like?

Once the survey is compiled, it will be one complicated 2,000-piece puzzle to put together that leads to another maze. How many times do we need to go down this road?

A better question — and more realistic survey — is simply this: what do residents and stakeholders want Dunkirk to be? Though many believe the key to the city’s future is at the lake’s door step, the right path to make it a true destination will be full of trials and tribulation.

One example of the unneeded debate is the signature piece that currently exists — the Dunkirk Pier. Before the welcome improvements happened, a segment of the population fought to keep the tourist site just a parking lot.

Today, nobody can deny the value — or the appearance — of the location. It is one more example of Dunkirk — and all of Chautauqua County — fighting change even when the outcome will likely be overwhelmingly positive.

But even though the $10 million may be used for good-intentioned projects, that doesn’t guarantee success. Athenex, which was the great hope of the north county, appears to have been bad medicine despite all the promise seven years ago in fighting cancer. More than $200 million in state cash was used to build what was supposed to be a state-of-the-art facility, which — according to the current leaseholder ImmunityBio — is already flawed and needs repairs.

What Dunkirk and Chautauqua County keep missing out on is private investment. Very few on the outside of this region see our county as a positive place to do business.

Some of that burden comes from New York state. A greateer piece of that burden comes from high property taxes that are endorsed by numerous county, school and municipal leaders.

No elected official, however, is focusing on that problem. Many — including the 251 seeking office this November– have thrown up their hands in defeat on the tax issue. They’re all more focused on winning another term than reducing their constituents’ burden.

One other obstacle facing Dunkirk in its $10 million award is the real uncertainty surrounding who will be the next mayor and a highly lackluster council. Neither have yet to prove themselves capable of managing city coffers. Candidate Kate Wdowiasz is the city’s current paralegal while challenger Councilman At-Large Dave Damico, through his limited finance committee participation, has proven he does not understand the budget process.

Coming meetings on the plan are Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel when the Downtown Revitalization Initiative committee will hear presentations from project sponsors seeking funding through the program and discuss next steps in the process. On Monday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m., members of the team will be present at the Back to School Bash in Point Gratiot Park to get feedback from the community on projects seeking funding.

A final word of caution regarding the Dunkirk’s limited windfall from the state. Jamestown won its Downtown Revitalization Initiative money in 2016. Seven years later, there is barely evidence — remembering the National Comedy Center was a state and foundation endeavor — that anything of significance has been done to improve the south county city.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.