The Dunkirk Common Council unanimously passed a law allowing it to go above the New York State-imposed property tax cap in its 2025 budget.

Four residents of the city criticized the council for considering the move, during a public hearing before the vote.

“I’m retired and so is my husband and we can’t afford to pay more taxes,” Karen Ferry said. “We’re not responsible for the last administration that blew all the money. It’s not our fault, why do we have to pay for this? If we can’t pay, people are going to lose their homes.”

She added, “We’re very fearful. …The water bills are up, the electric bills are up, (natural) gas bills are up, food is ridiculous, I have to go to the reservation to get gas because it’s over $3.69 up here, our insurance on our cars went up, our homeowners insurance went up — we’re broke. So please don’t do this.

“I might have to sell my house and move out of this town. I moved out of Fredonia because the taxes got too high. I’d appreciate it if you’d reconsider this stuff and think about all the elderly that are in Dunkirk.”

Another speaker said her landlord told her, “Hang on to your hats, rent is going sky-high.” She accused city officials of “bankrupting the people that put you people in office,” calling it a “disgrace.”

The city needed to override the tax cap in order to fund its 2025 budget. Mayor Kate Wdowiasz’s initial proposal called for an approximately 108% property tax increase. The council is currently looking at places to save money in order to get that number down. It needs to pass a 2025 budget by Dec. 15.

Wdowiasz can veto the budget that the council approves, and the city would then use her proposal for 2025 — unless a supermajority of four council members votes to override her veto.

“Even if the council was to raise taxes 2½%, the council would need to add this law,” City Attorney Elliot Raimondo said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a 108% tax increase, but you can go above 2%.”