The Festival Season still isn’t over yet….

The Dunkirk Boardwalk presents Oktoberfest.

Saturday, Oct. 26, 2PM –        Pumpkin painting for the kids – judging at 4 PM

Music from 4-6

Chili Cook-off – each merchant will make their own chili.  People attending the event will be given samples and then                                                                 they vote on their favorite.  This carries over to Sunday.

Mini-Oktoberfest -There will be German food themes, German beers featured, and sweet and hard cider available.

Sunday Oct. 27, 2 PM                 Trick or treating for the kids

Best costume contest – children and adult categories

Music from 4-6

Chili Cook-off and Oktoberfest continue.

If rain, all events will take place on Sunday, October 27

The October 9th Planning Board minutes are now available, as is the October 24th agenda.

Go to the Planning Board page to view.

It is my distinct honor as mayor to present you with the City of Dunkirk’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.

Like homeowners, businesses and other municipalities, the City has faced and continues to face many serious financial challenges.  The 2014 Budget is the result of two years of hard word in taking a realistic approach to the City’s needs, balanced with an awareness of the fiscal realities.

I want to sincerely thank all of the employees and Department Heads who contributed their time and effort to assist in the development of the 2014 Proposed Budget, and who have worked so tirelessly in the recent past to constrain unnecessary spending.

As usual, difficult decisions have been made in realistically managing the City’s resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.

This spending plan will be our guideline moving forward and one that we will all need to work within to provide the greatest value to City taxpayers and ratepayers.

Fund 1

The NYS Retirement System, Social Security and Workers’ Compensation obligations have relatively minor fluctuations from 2013 to the required 2014 levels; and, therefore did not have a significant, detrimental impact on the budget.

Revenue remained relatively consistent from 2013 to 2014.

Reduced spending to the tune of nearly $100,000 (2013 adjusted budget to the proposed 2014 budget) translating to a variance of less than1%.

These factors have allowed for an increased contingency allotment, as well as the planned purchase of two large-scale, but necessary, pieces of DPW equipment.

Fund 2 (Water)

The 2^nd tier of the scheduled rate increase to residential minimums will take place to meet consent order debt service.

The 1^st tier of the rate increase generated $280,000 in revenue to meet said debt service.

The Administration Fee has been increased from $250,000 to $300,000 to more accurately reflect personnel time and materials that are not accounted for in that respective fund.

Spending reduced approximately $31,000, translating to a less than 1% variance.

Lastly, the contingency allocation has been doubled, allowing for more repairs to take place outside of consent order scope.

Fund 3 (Wastewater)

Declining industrial and other revenue throughout Fund 3 has resulted in a $383,000 decline.

Fortunately, we are retiring a 1992 EFC financing debt that accounted for $340,000 of 2013 budget.

The Administration Fee has been increased from $250,000 to $300,000 to more accurately reflect personnel time and materials that are not accounted for in that respective fund.

Spending decreased over $434,000 totaling a variance of approximately 11%.

Proposed increases to contingency allotment and capital projects are subject to long-term objectives of Wastewater Plant.  We will be exploring options in the next few weeks.

Highlights:

This proposal follows 2012 Auditor’s Report listing the City in the black to the tune of over $600,000 across all three funds.  Everyone involved deserves credit for sticking to necessities.

Upgrade to our KVS accounting software, made for a more efficient budget preparation process.  You will notice a new layout and less paper for at least the proposed budget.  We will not be printing as many copies either in favor of online review at dunkirktoday.com.

For 2014:

Decreased spending totaling over $550,000 across all 3 funds.

One Multipurpose Sterling with Plow. (main component in removal of snow, brush, leaves; multiple uses)

One Packer—garbage and recycling needs.

Cultural allotments remain steady for first time in years.

Study of Fire Halls will be performed in 2014; construction may also begin.

Seawall/Bike Path Phase III construction will begin.

Continued upgrades to water filter plant.

Projected amount of $700,000 in CHIPS fund to continue to street repairs/improvement (in conjunction with HUD funds that amount will total close to 1 million).

As previously mentioned there is a possibility to begin significant upgrades at Wastewater plant under Article 9 Energy Law.  We will begin those discussions in short order.

Lastly, and most importantly the 2014 proposed budget reflects a…

O% tax increase

Special thanks to Richard Halas and Mark Woods for their time and efforts in compiling and devising the 2014 Mayor’s budget.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Anthony J. Dolce

Mayor

Team Fresh beat LHDC 42-6 and the First Ward Falcons beat Those Guys 42-36 on Saturday.

LHDC plays Jenna’s 4th Street Cafe tomorrow at 5:30pm.

Mayor Dolce will unveil is proposed 2014 City budget at tonight’s Council Meeting.  The budget will also be available on www.cityofdunkirk.com this evening.

Go to the Department of Public Work homepage for a list of Hot-in-Place Street Restoration Program Streets.  We are roughly half way done, and hope to finish within a week.  Thank you for your cooperation.

The 2013 Flag Football League schedule is now available.  Go to the Youth and Rec page to view.

Flag Football begins this Saturday at 10am at Pangolin Field.

Next Wednesday’s (October 9) agenda is posted.  Click here for agenda.

This Thursday’s Planning Board meeting has been cancelled.  Stay tuned to www.cityofdunkirk.com for more information on a new date.