Drastic measures have their payoffs.

A little more than a year ago, some people criticized Selma Mayor George Evans and the Selma City Council for the layoffs of some city workers and 12 percent pay cuts taken by most employees and council members.

On Monday night during a council work session, auditors from Wilson, Price, Barranco, Blankenship & Billingsley talked about the measures taken by the then-new administration to undo the damage of the previous administration.

In the unqualified audit — the best opinion a governmental body can receive — in 2009 the city had revenue in excess over expenditures $40,333. In 2008 the city had a $723,447 deficit.

When asked the auditors agreed the cost-cutting measures made the difference in the city coming out with a surplus rather than have a deficit much like the one in 2008.

“It achieved its goal in that situation,” said Billy Daniels, a representative of the auditing firm who spoke Monday night.

Those words say a lot about the mayor and council taking a difficult step in hard times.