Dunkirk council members got the first draft of a 2027 budget calendar last week. Mayor Kate Wdowiasz immediately told them it needs to get sped up.

Wdowiasz attended a meeting of the Common Council’s Finance Committee as a spectator. Committee chairman/Councilman-at-large Nick Weiser handed out copies of the budget draft before the meeting began. Wdowiasz immediately commented that the dates would have to be moved up because the Office of the State Comptroller “ripped us apart” this year for not getting budget material in on time.

Weiser later emphasized that the budget calendar was a first draft, and he welcomes feedback on it. “My thought was we would use this as a jumping off point if changes need to be made,” he said. “This just clarifies everything in a timeline format.”

Councilman Frank Torain called it “a broad view of what’s going to happen,” with specifics coming from meetings with city officials, especially department heads.

The first draft looks to be basically “business as usual” as far as the timing of what gets done in the budget process. The mayor’s proposed budget is not due until Oct. 14 and the council’s final budget isn’t due until Dec. 15, both dates pursuant to the city charter.

Weiser acknowledged that the dates ought to be moved forward — but noted there would need to be charter changes in order to make it permanent.