“Basically, we had a good year”–outside auditor

The year 2020, especially for Seneca, is one city government and its inhabitants will likely want to forget.  After all a tornado ravaged parts of the city to the tune of millions of dollars and a mysterious fire nearly wiped out the fleet of garbage trucks.  And then, unless you’ve been on planet Mars, you know all about the world pandemic.  However, the city’s outside auditor was able last night to put a bright spot on some of the finances that impacted city government and its taxpayers.  CPA Mike Stancil delivered his financial accounting of city revenues and expenses for the fiscal year 2019-20.  They reflect unplanned expenses to rebuild part of the city’s electric power system, but also re-imbursements from the federal government and the return of revenues from the county’s Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  Stancil told the story of one of his clients in the tornado hard-hit Adams subdivision.  The man said he got a new roof that he needed, he needed his house painted, and got rid of trees he didn’t want.  And he got “closer” to his neighbors because of quarantine.  And, as for the city, Stancil said, the city was able to replace 30-40 year old Light and Water equipment with new equipment.  And he left the mayor and council with these words, “You were blessed.”