Even the smallest of municipalities are feeling the pinch of higher costs. In Cassadaga last week, it was noted the village ran a deficit for the last two years — most of which was during the COVID pandemic.

To make up for those losses, board members are eyeing tax and water increases. “At the last meeting, I showed we’ve been in a deficit for the last couple years,” said Roxanne Astry, village clerk. “I don’t know what it’s going to be now that we’ve got three more months. Hopefully we don’t have expenses that we weren’t planning on or waterline breaks or whatever.”

For the record, about 600 residents live in the village. It’s a great location — on its spectacular lakes — with a small business district. But overall, the municipality is handcuffed as it has very few resources.

Rightly, in an effort to recoup the losses, its residents will be asked to pay higher water rates — a 17% increase — and taxes in the coming year due to recent overspending. Little Cassadaga, with two years of deficits, appears unsustainable without property owners contributing more.

In times of high inflation, that is still a very tough ask.