The city of Dunkirk is currently breaking even, Fiscal Affairs Officer Ellen Luczkowiak said last week.

Luczkowiak told the Common Council’s Finance Committee that current revenues and expenses for the fiscal year “are about equal.”

She issued a warning, however: Police and fire department overtime expenses, which run to about $20,000 per month between the two, are threatening the bottom line.

“I’m not sure why it’s so much. I’m only giving you facts,” Luczkowiak said. “I was hoping (Fire Chief Nicholas Barter and Police Chief Chris Witkowski) would be here to explain the ‘why,’ but they’re not.”

The fiscal officer cautioned that “Right now is the time we need to strategize and figure out we need some money.” She noted, with some apparent worry, that the city still has to catch up on its payments to the state retirement system. She also pointed out that the city has an annual revenue crunch around the start of each year, not receiving very much until March, and needs to plan for that.

“We are watching our Ps and Qs. To date, we are doing very well,” Luczkowiak said.

However, a long-awaited audit of the city’s 2024 finances is still not finished. Responding to a question from Councilman James Stoyle, Luczkowiak said auditors Drescher & Malecki are “really taking a deep dive reviewing all of our work from 2024… they tell us it’s just about ready now.”

Luczkowiak began her remarks Thursday on a personal note.

“I want to dispel a rumor that got back to me that I’ll be leaving the city soon,” she said. “I’m here for as long as the city will have me.

“I took this job because I wanted to help in some way,” said Luczkowiak, who became Dunkirk’s fiscal affairs officer in January 2024.