WESTWEGO, La. (AP) — Westwego will go into the new year without an approved budget after the City Council failed to adopt one this past week.

The New Orleans Advocate reports the council is considering an alternative budget, proposed by Councilman Larry Warino, that would raise sewer and water rates by 12.5 percent, rather than the 40 percent increase proposed by Mayor John Shaddinger.

The council took no action on either plan, instead going item-by-item through Warino's proposal, which would offset revenue losses from the lower rate increase by reducing money for overtime, eliminating benefits for a few positions and eliminating a pay raise Shaddinger has requested for a recently promoted assistant.

The council is expected to take up the budget again when it meets on Jan. 13.

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