Dunkirk 2026 budget approved

DUNKIRK — The 2026 budget is in place.

Dunkirk City Council approved the city’s $2.64 million budget for next year during its meeting Monday.

The $2.64 million budget is down slightly from $2.7 million in 2025. (The budgets in 2024 and 2025 both involved spending of federal coronavirus relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.)

The bulk of the budget — $1.76 million — is in the general fund, which went up by about $50,000 from the previous year. Other major funds include $362,400 in motor vehicle highway, $168,000 in trash and garbage pick-up and $150,000 in economic development income tax.

It factors in 2% raises for all city employees.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Dan Watson, Christy Curts, Randy Murphy and Donna Revolt unanimously approved the budget.

The council also approved two contracts with Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne for paving work. Brooks will pave the north-south and east-west alleys in the block southeast of the intersection of Main and Commerce streets. It will also handle some repairs after streets were cut for utility work.

Mayor Jack Robbins and Murphy also reported that paving of Pleasant Street on the west side of the city, Fourth Street, D Street and Lincoln Avenue between Main and Angle streets is planned for mid-October. 

The city received a $143,126.25 Community Crossings grant through Indiana Department of Transportation for the work.

In other business, council:

•Approved a memorial service for Charlie Kirk to be held at Dunkirk City Park, provided that the organizers fill out the proper paperwork and provide proof of insurance as required by all entities holding events at the facility.

•OK’d making the alley on the north side of MJS Mortuaries in downtown Dunkirk one-way between the alley to the west and Main St. A stop sign will be placed at the alley’s intersection with Main St. (Indiana 167).

•Heard from Mayor Jack Robbins that he planned to meet with Jay County Development Corporation and representatives from consulting firm Kleinpeter and Associates regarding plans to apply for a grant to demolish the Green Building, 303 S. Main St.

•Approved the following: a $550 sponsorship for Secret Families Christmas Charity of Jay County; payment of a $1,470 invoice from consulting firm Baker Tilly for work related to annexing land for a planned housing development; a $27,656 contract with Indiana Pump Works to repair a pump at the wastewater treatment plant and $9,392.70 from 4TC to repair additional equipment; payment of claims totaling $199,255,75.

•Heard from Robbins that he is continuing to work on proposed updates to the city’s zoning and golf cart ordinances.

•Learned from Curts that the Dunkirk Fire Department’s Haunted Woods will be open Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, and Nov. 1. It will be open from 7 to 11 p.m. each day except for Halloween, when it will open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $7, with a $1 discount available for those who donate a canned good.