GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Officials say cost-cutting and community fundraisers have helped the town of Greenville recover from a financial crisis residents are still trying to understand.
The city has less than $25,000 of outstanding tax debt left from the almost $160,000 in unpaid bills discovered after the April 2016 election, mayor pro tem Larry Burchard said Tuesday at a council meeting held to update the public.
The city's combined bank balance is now just under $70,000, compared to less than $5,000 when Burchard, Mayor Carroll Rainwater and Alderman Rendell Wills took office, according to the report.
Work done by the city's certified public account is complete and will be provided to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, officials said.
They expect to meet with the accountant within the next three weeks, but said they do not have any indication of what his report will include.
The community has been unbelievable during the last year, and they deserve to be kept informed, Burchard said before the meeting.
Despite the unanswered questions of how the money problems began and who is responsible, residents raised nearly $20,000 to help the city. The money came from cash donations and fundraisers, including sales of T-shirts that read "Down but not defeated," and "Hometown Pride."
"We didn't want to go under, that's for sure," said Vera Twidwell, who helped organize a fish fry and auction to raise money.
"It's a little town. We want to keep it going," said Frieda Williamson, 67, who also helped organize the fundraisers, along with Gail McAtee, Connie Montgomery and other community members.
Residents additionally approved a new 1-cent sales tax for the general fund in November. The city began collecting the money in April and expects July to be the first month when they receive the full benefits of the new tax.
While residents fundraised, the city council looked for ways to cut expenses, Burchard explained in an interview before the meeting.
Cost cutting was the biggest help, and bringing departments within their budgets, he said.
The city's police department was cut from three fulltime officers to a parttime position.
A new tractor with almost $28,000 in payments remaining was sold, and the note paid.
City clerk Judy Osburn and other officials worked with the IRS to get more than $30,000 in penalties forgiven for unpaid federal withholdings taxes, Burchard said. Osburn also has not taken a salary for any of the work she has done over the past year, he said.
The only remaining outstanding bill is approximately $24,500 for 2015 federal employment taxes, the council told residents. The city is scheduled to make payments of $3,500 a month, but plans to make larger payments.
Burchard said the city has paid the following bills (figures approximate): unpaid bills, such as gas and equipment, $30,300; new tractor, $27,600 (sold); taxes for 2009-12, $1,600; 2014 federal employment tax, $30,100; 2015 federal employment tax, $5,400; penalties and interest (forgiven) $30,100; employment tax 2013-16, $800; eight months of state tax withholdings, $5,700.