The Harlan City Council discussed the city’s proposed budget during its regularly scheduled meeting recently.

Mayor Danny Howard said this budget was the third revision and currently was just “bare bones” with minimum resources, funding and employees.

“This is going to be a problem we need to be looking at very strongly,” said Howard. “I want to tell you (the council) it does work. It’s tight, but it does work. We are able to do it without laying off people. We are able to do it with maintaining services. There will need to be an increase in water and sewer services.”

City treasurer Charles Guyn said one of the noticeable things in the budget this year was no raises for city employees and overtime is set at the lowest possible amount allowable.

He said the budget also showed a 5-percent increase in sewage and garbage. He explained to the council with an increase that small the sewage and water will not break even at the end of the year. Guyn said to break even an increase of at least 10 percent is needed.

“We need to get the rates up to where we can start to put money back to replace equipment as it wears out. We are one catastrophe away from having a major problem,” said Guyn.

He said one example of the type of expenses used on the city was 23 pumping stations for the sewage plant. He said 21 stations were outside the city. He said when a city employee has to check the pump stations it takes half of the day, if there are no problems at any of them.

“My proposal on this particular budget is that we give you time, to take it home and look at it, to adjust it and see there are any questions,” said Howard.

Howard he said he wanted to make certain everyone on the council was comfortable with the proposed city budget before it was voted on and approved.

“We have cut everything as much as we know to cut it,” Howard said. “I encourage you all to look at it and tear it apart. If you get any questions call us (Howard and Guyn).”

Howard said he and Guyn would sit down with council members throughout the month to help answers questions or make corrections.