“For a lot of years, we’ve had no increase or we’ve had a penny increase, and it’s just not reasonable to go on doing that in the current climate,” said Town of Dunkirk Supervisor Priscilla Penfold.

A year ago, the Town stayed under the tax cap with a total budget of $1,223,929, including special districts, and a tax rate of 84 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. This coming year, however, the tax rate will increase by five cents in 2025 to 89 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Town Council member Phil Leone highlighted that for a home that is assessed at $200,000, the property tax increase amounts to $10 over the figures from 2024. “That’s pretty minimal,” Leone said.

The 2025 preliminary budget shows $429,928 in general expenses, but it is in the special districts, such as the water, sewer, and fire districts where an increase comes from, especially with ongoing water district upgrades.

Pictured is Town Council member Jean Crane explaining the reasoning for a tax increase in the 2025 preliminary budget.

“The Town Tax, which is the Highway Department and the General Fund, is an excellent rate that we have. When we go into the special districts, that’s where the money comes in,” said Town Council member Jean Crane, a longtime Town Clerk. As was the case a year ago, Crane assisted Town Clerk Rebecca Yacklon in preparing the 2025 budget.

For the 2025 fiscal year, Yacklon will receive a salary of $62,400 as Town Clerk; Town of Dunkirk Supervisor Priscilla Penfold will receive a salary of $13,245; Town Justice Christopher Penfold will receive a salary of $25,000; and the four Town Council members will receive salaries of $5,822.

Before the budget was presented, the Town first held public hearings on the East Town and West Town Fire Department budgets for the purpose of approving fire protection contracts. Following those hearings, the Town held public hearings on the 2025 preliminary budget and the proposed local law to override the tax cap.

Former Town Supervisor Juan Pagan, a lifetime member of the East Dunkirk Fire Department, was among the members in attendance for the public hearings regarding the fire protection contracts. Pagan left most of the talking to Kyle Damon, East Town Fire Chief; Brian Purol, East Town Assistant Fire Chief; and James Odien, West Town Fire Chief.

Once all four public hearings concluded, a special meeting commenced. The Town then proceeded to approve the 2025 preliminary budget, the local law to override the tax cap, and both contracts for fire protection.

This year, the West Town of Dunkirk Fire Department requested $80,800 for its 2025 fire protection costs, an increase that did not surpass the 2% cap. A year ago, the West Town of Dunkirk Fire Department received $79,200, and the year before that; the West Town received $78,540.

Of the $80,800 total budget, $24,200 is allocated to trucking and equipment costs; building maintenance is allocated $7,000; bathroom facilities updates are allocated $5,000; and utilities are allocated $5,600. A truck replacement fund is allocated $18,000 to go toward the purchase of a new truck in future years.

“I consider myself very fortunate to live in the Town of Dunkirk for fire protection, and other reasons,” Supervisor Priscilla Penfold said. “… We appreciate you beyond what you probably realize.”

The East Town of Dunkirk Fire Department is set to receive $158,960 for the 2025 fiscal year. That figure is up slightly from the 2024 figure of $155,844, and the 2023 figure of $152,789.

Damon stated the East Town of Dunkirk Fire Department saw three key increases in its budget this year: OSHA mandated physicals, personal protective equipment costs, and rising fuel costs.

Damon noted the Department is “fortunate” to have increases to its physicals and equipment costs because the Department “had an influx of people who wanted to join.”

Damon also noted a one-time purchase in a previous budget that the Town approved for a gear extractor, which acts similar to a washing machine to extract particles and carcinogens from firefighters’ gear. Damon expressed appreciation for the purchase and called it “a huge help.”

Crane, an East Town of Dunkirk resident, commended the East Town of Dunkirk Fire Department for its efforts.

“I’m amazed at the calls you have and the response time after that whistle goes off,” Crane said. “On behalf of the Town of Dunkirk and our community, we thank you for your dedication and your service. You do a wonderful job.”

With new hydrants installed throughout the Town in recent years, fire protection capabilities in the Town are better than ever before. As a result, homeowners are encouraged to contact their individual homeowners insurance companies to inquire about lower rates.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Dunkirk Town Board is Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dunkirk Town Hall and Court.