The Selma City Council’s decision to start enforcing its public building rental and fee waiver policy is a good, fair decision.
Not many cities waive fees for renting public buildings, and the city decided it was time to follow a policy it implemented years ago more strictly.

The enforcement will begin when the city’s fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

The policy sates that fees will only be waived for events that are official functions of Selma City Schools or non-profit events that do not require people to pay an entrance fee. The city has waived fees over the last few years for events that do charge admission, and it has cost them thousands of dollars.

Selma City Council President Corey Bowie said one year the city lost between $35,000 and $40,000 to waived rental fees.

Bowie said waiving fees puts a strain on the city’s public buildings department, as well as the council when they are forced with making a decision. With stricter enforcement, the city will be able to recoup money that is spent on its public buildings, especially the George P. Evans Reception Hall and the newly completed Riverfront Amphitheater that still needs updates.

If the city wants to make improvements to its buildings and give citizens better service, it needs to earn money from renting them out instead of losing it, but the council must be fair in its enforcement.