Selma mayor and city council work to resolve budget controversy

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Selma city officials appear to be trying to resolve a controversy concerning the recently passed city budget.

Mayor James Perkins, Jr. issued a statement claiming the budget was unbalanced and the council had failed to do it’s job.

Council President Pro Tem Clay Carmichael — told Action 8 News — that the mayor’s statement was an attack on the council — because $2 million dollars had been cut from the mayor’s proposed budget.

Now it appears the council and the mayor are working together to resolve the situation.

The two sides met last night to try and iron out their differences.

“They made some adjustments by increasing the amount of cash reserve that they put in to cover the deficits that they had in the budget they proposed,” said Perkins.

“They still did not acknowledge that they passed an unbalanced budget, but they did what was necessary to balance it. And so, at least we think they have. We’re going to go through it today and see what all they’ve done. And then go from there.”

The city council voted to perform a forensic audit of the city’s finances.