DUNKIRK, N.Y. — As Dunkirk neighbors continue to dig out from the latest round of lake-effect show, it's their pockets they'll also be digging into to pay for an 84% property tax increase next year.
"84% is ridiculous," said resident Jim Bradley.
"My daughter's first reaction was shock and fear," said Nancy Dobay.
The Dunkirk Common Council approved the increase during a special session on Saturday, December 15, the deadline to pass the city's budget.
Councilmembers told 2 On Your Side they had hoped to cut down Mayor Kate Wdowiasz's 108% increase as proposed in her city budget back in September, but ultimately agreed upon the 24% reduction.
"I don't think anyone on council is satisfied," said Councilman-at-Large and Finance Committee chair Nick Weiser.
"We were able to get the 24% reduction, but 84% isn't the number we were looking at, that's not the level of relief we had hoped to achieve for our residents," he added.
Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak said while she wasn't happy with the final number, the council had to be unified in what they had.
"None of us are getting re-elected again, all six of us... yeah, I've heard people are very disappointed," Luczkowiak said.
She noted that the council was somewhat handcuffed by years of budgeting issues and the failure to adjust financial planning based on inflation and major events like the closure of the Dunkirk NRG power plant.
The loss of the plant cost the city $2.5 million according to Weiser, but instead of cutting the budget to reflect that loss in revenue or implement a modest tax increase to make up for part of it, the city ate away at its reserves year after year.
"This is something that has been in the works for the past 30 years or so," Weiser said.
While that history isn't lost on neighbors, folks like Bradley and his wife, who live on a fixed income, wonder what they will do to cover the increase. One-quarter of Dunkirk residents live on a fixed income and another 25% live at or below the poverty level, according to U.S. Census Data.
"I understand what happened in the past, but we shouldn't be punished for it," Bradley said.
Weiser and Luczkowiak said the council cut about $1.1 million from the proposed budget, removing unfilled jobs and adjusting what they believed were inflated costs.
2 On Your Side pressed both council members, asking whether they did enough to reduce the impact on taxpayers.
"I can guarantee we've done anything in our power to lower that number," Weiser said.
With the focus turned toward the next budget, the city is considering merging its police and fire departments with the Village of Fredonia and adjusting how water rates are collected from heavy users.
"Council now goes into 2025 with a slate of some really great ideas that allow us to look at generating added revenues, ideas that were generated this year," Weiser said.
2 On Your Side was told that Mayor Wdowiasz was not available for comment on Monday.
According to the council's calculations, the property tax increase will cost the median homeowner an additional $60 a month, per $50,000 of assessed home value.