The Selma City Finance Committee met Monday night at City Hall to discuss the financial matters of the city.

The first item the committee discussed at the meeting was Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier’s proposal to shift $40,000 of the maintenance funding so that 6 new patrol cars could be leased for the Selma Police Department.

According to Collier, the need for patrol cars is dire.

“I’ve policed at three different agencies and this is the worst fleet system I’ve ever seen,” said Collier.

Councilwoman Miah Jackson agreed with Collier that improvement to SPD’s fleet is needed, but she is concerned about how the spending of $40,000 over the course of five years will affect the city.

“I’m all there,” said Jackson, ‘We need a fleet program, I’m just not sold on how we’re going to pay the $40,000 over the five years…I would just like to make sure that when we’re making these decisions that they’re not impromptu and that we’re thinking about how they’re going to impact us long term.”

Other items discussed at Monday’s meeting included a proposal by City Council President Corey Bowie to raise various city licensing fees.

Bowie suggested that the $67 contractor’s license be raised to $250, that the $50 license for vendors be raised to $125, that the $17 Barber/Salon Chair license be raised to $100 and that the $75 license to sell beer and wine be raised to at least $150.