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The Selma City Council approved to send its 2023 Fiscal Year Budget to Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. at a Special Called Meeting on Thursday.

Attending the special called meeting at the Council Chamber were: City Council President Billy Young, Council members Clay Carmichael, Troy Harvill, Atkin Jemison, Michael Johnson, Jannie Thomas, Christie Thomas and Lesia James.

The city council also voted down Perkins’ version of the budget, but Johnson and Jemison were against that. The council’s proposed budget is $19.4 million.  Perkins’ budget increased by $3.359 million from last year.

Perkins proposed that City minimum wage at $12 per hour, and truck drivers and heavy-duty equipment operators at $16 per hour.

Carmichael said that the city council worked diligently on a compromise of what Perkins proposed, but is pleased  what the council did.

“I think we’ve got something now that can afford and sustain, while increasing pay to those who have worked hard for years for less than they deserve,” Carmichael said. “We appreciate them and we want them to be able to afford to pay their bills at the same time the city pays its own.

Carmichael also said there’s a sticking point in the budget negotiations.

“One sticking point throughout our finance committee discussions was the need to separate one-time revenues and expenses from the general operating fund and we’ve done that so we can focus on some big projects in the city like cameras, tearing down dilapidated structures and renovating public buildings among other things,” Carmichael said.

Young said that Perkins will have two weeks to review the budget. The Fiscal year ends September 30 and the 2023 Year begins on October 1.