Harvey furloughed about 40% of city workers this week, following Mayor Christopher Clark’s announcement Oct. 16 the city would partially shut down services as a consequence of its financial situation becoming untenable. According to Clark, Harvey is $164 million in debt.

Harvey’s total workforce is 167, and 69 employees were furloughed, leaving 98 to maintain the essential operations of government. That includes nearly half of the Fire Department, with 20 out of 41 total employees furloughed, and more than a third of the Police Department, with 24 out of 68 employees furloughed, according to city documents.

“We are trying our very, level best to operate in good faith with the city,” said Keith Freeman, secretary of Harvey Firemen’s Association Local 471.

Freeman declined to comment fu

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