LEESVILLE — The city may have to tap its already tight budget this month to hire staff for the Martin Luther King Community Center if volunteers can’t be found.

Mayor Rick Allen on Monday told the City Council that the center’s summer enrichment program began this week with only two full-time staff members and one part-time assistant. The program operates five days a week for seven weeks, ending July 28.

“We do have a small space in our budget allotted for the center to hire additional temporary staff,” Allen said. “But at this time our budget is so tight that we really need to try to conserve as much as we can.”

Allen pledged some of his time to the center, saying he would volunteer as much as his schedule allowed to keep the program running until more volunteers or staff members become available.

Councilwoman Willie Mae Kennedy said the program was invaluable to the community and asked that residents get involved in seeking out volunteers.

“There needs to be a big push in our community to meet this need,” she said.

The center, at 1003 North Gladys St., is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m.