(Northland's NewsCenter)---Two Iron Range lawmakers are pushing legislation that could help two Iron Range communities in financial crisis after they failed to meet the deadline for receiving local government assistance.
The town of Bovey is short more than $250,000.
"It's been a mess but we are dealing with it," Mayor Deborah Trboyevich said.
The mess comes after the city missed numerous deadlines in 2011 to file the 2010 city audit.
"We were not notified by our clerk and there were numerous letters sent from the auditors office," Trboyevich said. "First notice, second notice and final notice."
Senator Tom Saxhaug, (DFL) of Grand Rapids said in a phone interview he is hopeful the bill will save the towns pending financial crisis.
The bill has passed the House and is waiting to be heard in the Senate.
To get back on track, the town of Bovey has been working with Grand Rapids to help manage and process finances since December.
The city expects to submit its audit for 2011 this week, ahead of deadline.
"It does give them the checks and balances," City Administrator, Shawn Gillen of Grand Rapids said. "They will have the transparency they need and all the reporting and all the deadlines will be met."
If the legislature does not grant a reprieve, Bovey city officials expect the money will have to come from property taxes over duration of two to four years.
"So what happens, where does that money come from?" Interim City Clerk, Patrick Perry said. "How do we support the budgets for the police department, the library and the fire department? Because you have to have them, they are essential employees."
The legislation would also cover a similar situation for the town of Bigfork as it faces an $80,000 shortfall.
The town of Cohasset will now work with Bigfork to process its finances.
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