“You can’t fight City Hall” was a common cry from the past when a decision went against citizens of a local municipality. But that might be a current sentiment of Dunkirk resident Ryan Reading.

Within the last month, the OBSERVER has done a pair of articles regarding his angst and disdain for city leadership due to the 84% tax increase. First, he petitioned the city in April to offer a payment installment plan for property taxes, in response to a massive hike. That effort was basically ignored — “received and filed” by the Common Council with no further comment or action.

Later, he attempted a petition and then a court effort to force a financial control board, and disclosure of budget information he believes is getting withheld.

“The city continues to follow this trend or pattern of not moving forward on things, not doing things properly,” he said.

Challenging City Hall can be a costly effort.

Reading found out that to move forward with a lawsuit to constitute real action, he would need about $100,000. That’s a big cost for one – or numerous — residents.

Governments — not just in the city of Dunkirk — do not fear lawsuits or litigation. Those costs are not for the officials or employees to bear.

They always go back to the taxpayer.

In a sense, Reading is fighting a losing battle. Add in the $13.6 million New York loaned a cash-strapped Dunkirk — that has to be paid back by the city and its property owners — and you start to understand why local and state governments are suffering.

Residents who grow frustrated with the broken system can then do two things: continue to be punished with high taxes — or move. Chautauqua County’s population has been declining for five decades.

When will state and local leaders start to understand the damage being done? Not only does the city of Dunkirk with an inflated budget and expenses need a real control board, so does the rest of New York state.