Wdowiasz Says State Plan to Address City's Spending Will Take 15 Years

Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz says the city appreciates the work that local state lawmakers Andrew Goodell and George Borrello did in getting the City of Dunkirk Fiscal Recovery Act included in this year's state budget. The mayor says it will give the city the tools it needs to get out of an anticipated $17 million shortfall. She added, though, that the process of addressing that issue will be a lengthy one...

Kate Wdowiasz: it will be a 15-year process

Meanwhile, talks over the city's fiscal woes continued during this week's Common Council meeting. At one point, Second Ward Councilwoman Abby Yerico asked Wdowiasz how people will be held accountable for that situation. Wdowiasz says the city must first determine who is responsible...

Kate Wdowiasz: need to know who's accountable first

Wdowiasz added, "The numbers that are in front of us show that there's been some type of inadequacy between the administration and the council for at least 10 years." She made her comments during an appearance on WDOE's "Viewpoint" program on Wednesday.

First Ward Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak issued a statement following Tuesday's council meeting, which says in part, "The mechanics and solutions are what are needed to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and then get to the other side of the tunnel. We will have to implement cost-saving measures, reduce expenses, and streamline operations. We will have to explore new sources of income and tax reform. We need to adopt best practices such as investing in updated financial software, which we will do this year. We need to foster economic development and support job creation. We also need to build an emergency fund."

Photo by Greg Larson