Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz plans to present a 2026 city budget proposal on Tuesday.

Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz says she plans to release her 2026 budget proposal Tuesday.

“I’m in the final stages of preparing the draft of the 2026 budget and my plan is to present next Tuesday,” Wdowaisz told the Common Council. “I would again encourage the council members to reach out to my office with any requests they may have.”

Councilwoman Nancy Nichols later asked Wdowiasz to clarify what time next Tuesday the budget presentation will be held. Wdowaisz said she didn’t know yet, but assured council members she would inform them when she comes up with a time.

Last year’s budget made headlines after a 108% tax increase was included in the plan due to a $13 million deficit that started in 2020 and continued through 2024. During that time, little was said about finances at many of the council meetings. Council decreased the tax hike to 84% last December.

The budget news was the top story from a brief, quiet Common Council session Tuesday. It was the only thing Wdowiasz commented on. No one from the public spoke during the 20-minute meeting.

Here’s a couple more things that happened:

— Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury said milling of West Third Street, in preparation for repaving, will begin Monday. The nearby parking area will also be refurbished, he said. Woodbury has repeatedly said that West Third Street will look as good as East Third Street, which was repaved last year, and made the statement again.

“It’ll give us an incentive to try to work toward the (Robin Street) tunnel that’s been a problem,” he said. CSX is working with the city to close the pedestrian tunnel, which is ravaged by trash and graffiti.

— Council introduced a local law to change the city animal control officer position, as laid out in Dunkirk’s charter, to a dog control officer. A legally required public hearing on the law was set. It will happen prior to the council’s next meeting Oct. 21. Council plans to vote on the law at the meeting, after the hearing.

Councilors want to change the position because there is a wider pool of potential dog control officers, as the hiring and licensing requirements for animal control officers are tougher. Jennifer Sasso was recently hired as the city’s first dog officer since December 2023.