It has been a quiet start for Mayor Kate Wdowiasz in the city of Dunkirk — until earlier this week. In some of her first formal criticisms, the new leader wants to get a rein on spending.

“We’re trying to figure out where we got to today, where we have to stick to penny to penny in the budget,” Wdowiasz told the finance committee when discussing recent purchases and later acknowledging the American Rescue Plan Act funds were misspent as well.

Wdowiasz’s comments are refreshing — and a reality for many now that COVID funding is beginning to dry up. Dunkirk’s city budget is more than $26 million for 12,000 residents. That’s a high cost for a city struggling with poverty.

Treasurer Mark Woods tried to offer reassurances, but we like what we hear from the mayor. Government spending is not a free-for-all. That message needs to be sounded for other municipalities and the county as well.