When it comes to funding, Mayor James Perkins Jr. thinks it should not boil down to a choice between one department or another.

In an interview Tuesday, Perkins said that even though the police department needs funding, he felt that the city should not have to choose between funding public safety or funding general services.

He added that funding should not boil down to a choice between garbage or safety.

Perkins said that the initial proposal made by City Council members asked for $100,000 to be given to the police department as a lump sum.

During a council work session held last Wednesday, Perkins recommended that rather than giving the department the $100,000,

the city should fully implement the 14-step salary plan it adopted in 1998.

Not all police department personnel are currently under the 14-step plan.

Perkins said Selma Police Chief Robert Green was in support of implementing the 14-step plan.

Perkins, when told that several council members were generally in favor of the proposal, said that he was &uot;pleased to hear it.&uot;

Perkins also proposed that funding go to public safety as a whole, rather than going to the police and fire departments separately.

Perkins said that before council votes on the budget in early October, he expected changes to be made to the budget.