At the Common Council meeting last month, Nancy Nichols who represents the Fourth Ward, made a bold statement shortly after the Dunkirk treasurer’s office was temporarily closed by the state comptroller. Nichols, who has been on the city’s legislative body for three terms, continues to seek out ways to point fingers regarding the city’s $18 million deficit.

“I’m very surprised that it was just targeted at one office, there should be other (city) offices that should be targeted for an investigation as well,” she said. “As a councilperson, I have the right to say that.”

Absolutely. And, as an elected official, she has every right to be investigated as well.

Since 2020, the mayors, administrations and council are sorely on the hook for the financial troubles that are being passed on to property owners in the form of an 84% tax increase. Residents, even if they know the hammer is coming, are still in for sticker shock.

Nichols — and other council members who gleefully approved spending plans and new equipment — would be best served to tell constituents what the plan is to take some of the future burden off homeowners. Instead, she is more interested in finding blame.

Well we can do that too.

With full arrogance, Nichols and council used $300,000 of federal funding to give themselves and workers a $2,000 bonus in 2021. If they were truly worried about city finances then, why were they so intent on padding their own pockets when they could have put those funds toward a small city tax break?

How about purchases of pumpers and a rescue boat? Never a worry about spending millions then.

How about the annual budgets? Council would cut $10,000 here and $5,000 there, but that is nickels and dimes when compared to the $18 million deficit the city currently faces.

We said it last week — and we’ll say it again until some elected official listens: fiscal doomsday has arrived. What is being done to wipe out the deficit and build up the city’s credit?

Until that question is answered, the investigations Nichols so vindictively desires, mean nothing.