It’s not a success story many cities &045;&045; or businesses &045;&045; can boast about these days.

The city of Selma has spent less money than it budgeted to spend. More importantly, the city has taken in a lot more money than it budgeted to receive.

At the Selma City Council meeting Monday night, Finance Director Bob Sanders informed council members that the city has taken in revenues of $12.35 million. According to the budget, the city expected to bring in only $11.30 million.

And what’s better, Mayor James Perkins Jr. said the city has a set of handcuffs on its checkbook. Total expenditures by the city, at the end of May, were $10.84 million. The city expected to have spent $11.11 million by this time already.

“Our collections are so much better,” Perkins said. “Not only our garbage collections, but business licenses and building permits. The inspector’s office has done an excellent job.”

Earlier this year, the city took over collections of garbage fees and has collected $1 million more than it had at this time last year.

Sanders, who credited the management of Perkins for the city’s positive financial news, reiterated that “aggressive collections” have helped the city make budget.

“When you work the system, the system usually works,” Sanders said. “If you plan your purchases, you usually pay for what you planned.”

In general terms, city revenues are 9.3 percent ahead of expectations and expenditures are 2.5 percent below budget &045;&045; both positive numbers.

Right now, the city is two-thirds of the way through its fiscal year, which ends Sept. 31, 2002. While the budget looks good for the rest of the year, Perkins said the city must continue to spend responsibly.

“I think we’ll make it, unless there’s some sort of catastrophic event either nationally or internationally,” he said.