Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz is shown speaking at the Brooks-TLC announcement in June with Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Securing election to the highest-ranking post for three city mayors in two counties may have been the easiest part of the job. Since taking office, it is hard to ignore the troubles that have faced Jamestown’s Kim Ecklund, Dunkirk’s Kate Wdowiasz, and Warren’s Dave Wortman, all of whom are in their first term.

In some instances, the problems are similar. There’s a decreasing population that leads to a declining tax base. Poverty rates remain high while the housing stock is old and sometimes deteriorating.

Additionally, residents with the means have relocated out of the cities to a more rural and suburban setting. In these cases, those taxpayers living nearby are benefiting from city services — and not paying their fair share — that include responses from the fire department and medical calls.

Though often overlooked, the three entities each have a bit of positive energy. In Warren, there is a solid manufacturing base that includes Whirley Drinkworks, Superior Tire and United Refining. Jamestown boasts the National Comedy Center and a strong nonprofit sector that is bolstered by its foundations. Dunkirk sits on Lake Erie and has seen a revitalization of its waterfront and ice-cream industry.

But the dark clouds always overshadow the shining moments. Rural cities in upstate and throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania are finding the going tough.

Many can blame a five-decade exodus from the rust belt — and that’s part of the problem. The larger issue is the government finds it tough to downsize when business, industry and residents leave. They try to maintain a system that was set up for a larger population.

It is far from efficient and creates a drain on those who remain. Here are the biggest issues facing the largest municipalities in the two counties:

— Jamestown — For more than three years, a homeless problem has been growing. In late July, Ecklund made headlines in announcing a state of emergency to deal with the situation. While she likely took the right step, reaction from Albany in terms of funding or resources has been non-existent.

Adding to the issue is the location where these individuals have set up camps to live. They are inhabiting the Chadakoin River area, which in recent years has been a focus of redevelopment efforts.

Ecklund has been both praised and criticized for the action, with the detractors making much more noise. But she is in a tough spot.

Jamestown’s future is the water and its downtown gems that include the Comedy Center. Those individuals near that location create an inconvenience for the city and Chautauqua County, which has a major brand push taking place — Live CHQ — aimed at talent attraction and retention.

While all areas have their shortcomings, the homelessness issue is in the face of all who reside and visit. It is not a good look for a city and county seeking a revival.

— Dunkirk — This lakefront city’s mess came more into focus on Wednesday as it grapples with a fiscal crisis and $16 million deficit. In presenting two budget proposals for next year — one with a tax hike that will more than double the rate for city taxpayers and another that includes a more than $5 million deficit, this situation exemplifies a lack of attention to detail.

In 2016 when the power plant along the lakefront was mothballed by NRG Energy Inc., the former $4 million payment in lieu of taxes that went to the city for seven decades was reduced to $300,000 before becoming zero by 2020. In making up for those lost revenues, city leaders and council did nothing but continue to hike spending while not raising taxes.

As an example, the nearly bankrupt city had a budget of $26 million for this year. Next year’s plan tops $28.9 million.

It is far from an excellent example of tightening the belt.

— Warren — A battle over a senior living facility downtown along the waterfront and a roundabout in the heart of downtown give off the impression there’s little hope for progress. Wortman was against the traffic circle, but was hopeful the Eagle’s Crest project would come to fruition.

A lawsuit filed against the project likely led to the developer noting it would “no longer be moving forward.” Five individuals, including one councilwoman, were part of the suit to overturn federal funding for the project.

Potential developers in the future may look to this battle and decide it is just not in their interest to invest in Warren. There’s just too many hurdles.

As for the roundabout, all systems are go at Market Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Unsurprisingly, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has high praise for the safety of these locations where traditional intersections were replaced with traffic circles.

The agency says crashes involving injuries were reduced by 51 percent and the total number of crashes were reduced by 7%. During the 20-year review period, there have been two fatalities at roundabouts on state routes. “Given the dramatic increase in safety and traffic flow, PennDOT will continue evaluating intersections for roundabouts,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.

That translates only one way: PennDOT will be giving more green lights to the traffic pattern.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.