Trending
Within the next month, elected leaders in the city of Dunkirk are going to have a choice to make when deciding on Mayor Kate Wdowiasz's $32.2 million spending plan for 2027 that includes a 12% tax increase. It simply comes down to this: Does the council represent the citizens of the city -- its constituents -- or will it support the government on life support.
Our guess? Council will not think twice about passing on that hike to city residents.
Why? It is the easy way out.
We totally understand the reasons. No one wants to tell dedicated and long-term employees that enough is enough. Likewise, no elected official wants to have to lay off or cut positions.
Payroll costs in 2026 in the city budget were about $9.5 million for 152 workers. That figure, however, does not include the costs for benefits.
What we know is health costs are rising and salaries are increasing, which ups the expenses in those categories. All told, salaries and benefits total nearly $13 million.
Due to generous contracts, those costs are no longer controllable. They will just keep going up.
Residents in Dunkirk, living paycheck to paycheck or on fixed incomes, are the ones who will be affected the most once the budget is passed. It is the same path taken for 2025 -- one of least resistance.
Of course, councils have a history of making poor decisions. Who can forget the trio in 2021 who voted for $300,000 in bonuses from American Rescue Plan Act funds? They padded their pockets -- and staff members -- as though they deserved an extra reward for working through COVID.
Now, some of these same greedy council members who never cared to look at financial reports are calling for the city -- through social media or by attending public hearings -- to contain costs. That is hypocrisy.
We will not stop repeating our solution, which is the only one that is possible or makes sense. Bring in a control board so timid council members are not forced with these choices.
No member of this legislative body has the courage to do what must be done. That ultimate decision drives up costs for a fiscally struggling municipality while leaving their constituents -- those who voted them into office -- on the hook.