How will the city of Dunkirk function once the term of Mayor Wilfred Rosas ends in less than three months? We could get an indication from a council that has a history of proving it does not work with the administration over the last four years.

Rosas unveiled a budget that raises property taxes to $18.12 per $1,000 of assessed value — a rise of 87 cents from the current rate. That would add $43.50 to the city tax bill of someone with property assessed at $50,000.

The mayor, who is not running for re-election, said he and his administration decided against cutting services. “Residents and taxpayers have become used to these services,” he said. “The decision to cut these services is always hard.”

As we already know from covering a Finance Committee meeting over the summer, costs have been a troubling line for the city. With a current budget of $26 million, council needed to approve a $5 million loan to make payments – for salaries and other items.

Council, which is supposed to be watching the fiscal cupboard, has no solutions or ideas on how to move ahead with this issue. There is one way to address out-of-control expenses, that is by looking to reduce costs.

This council used trickery last year in an attempt to cut around $150,000 from the 2023 proposed budget last year. Those costs were all tied to cabinet appointments of individuals who make much less than union employees.

Big deal. That amount of money won’t even come close to covering the annual payroll for two veteran police officers.

Raising taxes is an unfortunate option. But this Dunkirk group of elected officials has done nothing to rein in spending.