(AP) — A Scottsbluff legislative candidate says he’s been working with the IRS to eliminate a $30,500 tax lien.

Scottsbluff lawyer Mike Meister (MYE’-stur) said on Monday that he’d gotten into a “cash flow crunch” so he couldn’t pay the accumulated federal withholding for his employees. He says his staffers are “not in any risk.”

Meister says he’s working with the IRS on paying the arrearage. He told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he expected to be caught up by the end of the month.

Meister is running against Valley Bank President John Stinner Sr. for the legislative seat in Nebraska’s 48th District.