Council likely to back government, not residents

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.

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