The Haines Borough budget for the coming year will amount to “putting a size 9 foot into a size 8½ shoe,” borough manager Mark Earnest told a joint meeting of the assembly and school board Tuesday.

“You won’t get gangrene, but it won’t be comfortable,” Earnest said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but we can get through.”

The budget, drawn up each year by the borough manager, is due out at the end of…