By M.J. STAFFORD

mstafford@observertoday.com

“We are running close to $2 million in revenue ahead of expenses,” Dunkirk Fiscal Affairs Officer Ellen Luczkowiak told the Common Council Finance Committee last week. “I just wanted to make that apparent to everybody.”

Luczkowiak said the good news was partially spurred by “a lot more than we budgeted for” in parking ticket revenue, offering a little bit more “wiggle room” for the city.

Luczkowiak was reporting on expense and revenue reports she sent to council members. She also offered them a report on where each department’s expenses currently stand in relation to what was budgeted.

“It’s really not too, too bad,” the fiscal affairs officer said. “I think people have been sticking to their budgets.”

She added that departments are “talking about things rather than sweeping them under the rug so it gets done behind the scenes.”

Luczkowiak also noted that she and the police and fire chiefs are meeting with Enterprise about the company’s vehicle replacement options, in the hopes of saving the city money.

Recent estimates noted that the city of Dunkirk was facing a $20 million deficit. State Sen. George Borrello also has called for a control board to oversee the finances after a tax increase of 84% was passed on to city property owners for this year.