MAXTON — John Masters came before the commissioners here on Tuesday bearing the gift of another positive financial audit.

The partner at the firm of S. Preston Douglas & Associates presented the annual report, which the Local Government Commission sanctioned Tuesday afternoon without any changes.

“This is wonderful for us because we like to submit it and not have any changes,” Masters said.

Audit highlights included steadily decreasing structured debt and a general fund balance of $2.4 million. The unassigned portion of the general fund balance sits at more than $1.6 million.

The report showed a drastic change from Maxton’s financial standing a decade ago, when the town was required to present a financial report each month to the Local Government Commission.

“It shows that some hard decisions needed to be made and they were made,” Masters said.

Commissioner Victor Womack asked Masters how the town’s audit compares with other municipalities within the county.

“I think you’re on par with other municipalities,” Masters said.

Where the town defers is the property tax collection rates. Maxton’s property tax collection rate remains at 85% to 86%, which is below the county’s average.

“The only thing that I would say you’re not up to par with is the property tax collection rate, and the mayor and I had a brief discussion about that prior to the meeting,” Masters said.

Still, Mayor Paul Davis commended the commissioners and former commissioners on the work they’ve done to get the town in good financial standing over the past decade.

“I was very very pleased with everything I saw,” Davis said. “I think each of you contributed graciously to that.”

In other business:

— The board voted to amend the town’s budget to make room for a $2,775 salary increase for Police Chief Na’Shayla Nelson. Nelson’s current annual salary is $57,834.

Nelson has been the town’s chief since March. She replaced former police Chief John Ruppe, who resigned Jan. 15.

— The council was introduced to the department’s newest lieutenant, Raphiel Mason. Nelson said Mason hails from Virginia and brings a “wealth of prior experience,” having served in many capacities in law enforcement including as a detective. He also served 16 years in the U.S. Army, the police chief said.

— The mayor presented former Town Clerk Jacqueline Johnson with a resolution thanking her for her years of service to the town.

Johnson first came to work for the town in 1996, when she joined the town’s Utility Department and helped collect data in the wake of Hurricane Fran. Johnson became town clerk in 2011 and has served in the position since. In 2018, the Lumber River Council of Government named Johnson the Clerk of the Year, according to the resolution.

— Mayor Davis appointed Emmett Morton, Commissioner Victor Womack and Willis Sullivan to the Southeast Regional Airport Authority, formerly known as the Laurinburg-Maxton Regional Airport Commission. Morton and Sullivan were appointed to two-year terms and Womack to a one-year term, a decision made by a random draw, Davis said.

Davis also appointed Commission Paul McDowell to serve a five-year term on the Maxton Housing Authority Board.

Tomeka Sinclair can be reached at [email protected] or 910-416-5865.