SWANSEA, S.C. — The town of Swansea has had a number of financial challenges the last four years, and unfortunately that's still the case today.
We told you back in November that the town of Swansea was starting to cut off water to address water payment issues. Issues that the mayor said were likely to impact town employee payrolls.
Well as of mid-January, the town administrator Christine Keefer, said things are still looking a little bleak, but better.
"We're not the only town that has these kind of issues, but you just learn how to time what you spend with the timing of what's coming in," Keefer said.
According to documents News 19 asked for from the town in a FOIA request, from July through November of 2024, the town’s total income was $634,685.88 and its total expenses, $870,880.56, with a net operating income of -$236,194.68.
These documents also show a total other income of $524.30 and a total other expenses of $26,878.37, with the other net income being -$26,354.07.
Council member Doris Simmons said she gave her two cents on how to make it by during these lean months.
"Mike Luongo and myself gave the mayor several suggestions on how to get money, to help pay the bills, keep us above, afloat, I guess you could say keep us afloat during the time period until February," Simmons said.
Simmons said suggestions in early 2024 included asking for bill extensions, collecting overdue water bills, and creating a savings account.
News 19 asked the mayor for an interview but she declined.
"October she had 20 meters supposedly cut off, and in November she had 35 cut off," Simmons said.
According to Keefer, town staff are in fact getting paid.
"She has been very proactive in making sure people come in and either pay their bill or work out a payment arrangement. We've made a lot of progress in the last couple of months on that," Keefer said. "It's not all sunshine and rainbows yet. Again, it’s cyclical by the very nature of what we have, but we’re trying to find ways to make it better. There’s light at the end of that tunnel."
The town administrator tells News 19 she expects more revenue from property taxes to come in the next few weeks.