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The Selma City Council held its opening round of budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2025 onJuly 31.

Finance committee chairman and councilman Troy Harvill led the meeting to discuss Mayor James Perkins Jr.’s proposed budget of $24 million.

“The cost of everything has gone up,” said Selma City Council President Billy Young. “In order for Selma to not just maintain, but in order for it to thrive, we have to keep up with what’s going on at these different places. The cost of goods. The cost of services.”

Each department head present at the hearing gave their budget proposal to the city council. 

• Building inspector Zeb Lee’s budget proposal was $187,000 with $129,000 of the amount being salary.
• Cemetery department director Reginald Wells’ budget was $559,522 with $319,000 of the amount being salary.
• City clerk Ivy Harrison’s office was $178,000, with salary accounting for $129,000.
• Treasurer Terri Barnes-Smith presented the finance department budget, which was $268,000 with its salary accounting for $193,000..
• The Selma Fire Department budget presented by interim fire chief Walter Dailey was $3.9 million with its salary accounting for $2.3 million. Dailey said the SFD needed slots in the budget for about six each for captains, sergeants, and lieutenants valued over $25,000.
• Public works budget presented by director Henry Hicks Sr. was $3.1 million, with $1.3 million accounting for salary.
• The parks and recreation budget was $ 782,000, with salary accounting for  $400,000 and expenses at $280,000.
• Information technology’s budget was presented by director John Kinnerson Jr. at $1.1 million, with data expenses accounting for $505,000 and salary at $151,000.
• The judicial department presented by the chief magistrate budget was $238,000 with $173,000 accounting for salary. 

ª The legal department budget presented by attorney Major Madison was $166,000 with $128,000 being salary. 

• The personnel department budget presented by director Liz Rutledge was $225,000 with $153,000 accounting for salary.
• Planning and development budget presented by director Danielle Wooten’s  proposed budget was $537,000 with $223,000 being salary and $249,000 for expenses.
• The Selma Police Department’s budget was $4.4 million with its salary accounting for $2.4 million.
• The public buildings department’s budget presented by director Stephanie Menifee was  $889,000, general expenses at $670,000 and salary at $133,000.
• The tax and license budget presented by Terri Barnes-Smith was $140,000 with salaries accounting for $89,000.

City officials will meet again on August 8 to continue discussions over the budget.

Council present were President Billy Young, council members Christie Thomas, Atkin Jemison, Troy Harvill, Jannie Thomas, and Sam Randolph.