City of Dunkirk officials bought two fire trucks in 2023 that “were never really budgeted for.”
The city of Dunkirk currently has no obvious way to pay for two new fire trucks that are supposed to get delivered in September.
“There were two fire trucks bought in 2023 that were never really budgeted for,” City Attorney Elliott Raimondo stated at a meeting of the Common Council’s Finance Committee on Monday.
Fire Chief Nicholas Barter said that payment for the vehicles is due upon delivery, currently expected sometime in September.
The Common Council approved the truck purchases in 2023, along with bonds to pay for them. However, the bonds never went out. The estimated maximum cost of the trucks was $1.75 million.
Councilwoman Nancy Nichols asked why the bonds weren’t issued. “Timing, revenue shortfall,” said Treasurer Mark Woods. “It’s still something we can attempt to do.”
However, Fiscal Affairs Officer Ellen Luczkowiak said later that based on the state Legislature’s Fiscal Recovery Act for the city, Dunkirk is not supposed to be taking on any more debt.
“There is quite the need for pumper trucks for the residents’ safety,” Raimondo acknowledged, a sentiment backed up by Barter.
The fire chief said the trucks are already in production and are due off the line in August. Once inspections are complete, shipment and delivery arrangements should take about 4-6 weeks.
“That was an incurred deficit we all agreed on 100%, 1,000%,” said Councilman James Stoyle. “So we’re gonna pay for them.”
Raimondo agreed. However, there were no suggestions on how to pay for them.
Four out of the five Common Council members attended Monday’s Finance Committee meeting. Abigail Zatorski did not attend.
The city is in a fiscal crisis, with $13.6 million due July 24 on a Revenue Anticipation Note that was floated last year. That was floated to help pay off another, smaller Revenue Anticipation Note from 2023.
The state Assembly was debating as of Monday a proposed loan to help Dunkirk, a move opposed by local and state-level Republicans, including Nichols and Stoyle. The city was supposed to access millions of dollars in the Fiscal Recovery Act — but it can’t get that until the Comptroller’s Office has certified its debt, and the office won’t do that until it has received a 2024 audit of Dunkirk’s finances.
