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Elmer City wants to provide overdue pay raises for two town workers but leaders have to figure out how to pay for it, after a proposal to raise utility rates was blocked last week.

Mayor Gail Morin said that the two workers, Town Clerk Renée Tillman and public works Director Jimmer Tillman, both receive far less than workers in cities and towns nearby and haven’t had their salaries keep pace with the cost of living.

The clerk now receives $18.50 per hour and the town’s 2015 budget would increase this to $19.50.

Works Director Tillman receives $17 an hour and the new budget would bring his hourly rate to par with the city clerk at $19.50 an hour.

Morin said the plan is to pay for the increases through a $2-a-month increase of water rates and a $3-a-month increase in sewer rates.

Morin said that there has only been a single rate increase for the two services in the past 10 years.

Currently, residents pay $27 a month for water and $38 a month for sewer service. Those served by the town living outside the town pay more for services.

The rub came when two council members, Donna and Jeff DeWinkler, took issue with paying for the increases by upping the rates for services. Both were in favor of the increases but had problems with how the town was going to pay for them.

Morin said the council will grind out this final issue on the budget on Dec. 2, when another budget workshop is scheduled.