Dunkirk Common Council just cannot seem to get the message. Earlier this month, State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor issued a statement asking the elected officials to act on a proposed Fiscal Recovery Act.

Though council members had discussions about it, they never approved it. This week, Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak questioned its status after Mayor Kate Wdowiasz reported the bill had expired.

As noted by both state officials: “This bill cannot move forward without action from the Common Council and the mayor. We have done our part. The city must now do theirs. Every day of inaction is another day Dunkirk moves closer to a fiscal cliff that will threaten services, strain labor relations, and further erode public trust.”

So what’s next? Dunkirk, specifically the council, frittered away that opportunity while still having to repay last year’s state loan of $13.7 million that includes an interest rate of 7.5%.

New York state was late in passing its budget. Now that it’s through, city officials have only themselves to blame for not backing the plan.

For some reason, council members did not like the “language” in the proposal. Yes, words do matter.

But so does money. That’s Dunkirk’s real problem.

Council keeps forgetting they have no leverage if they have no cash.