Although July is still nearly two months away, the Dallas County Commission wasted no time at Monday’s commission meeting discussing their involvement for this year’s Independence Day celebration.

The commission voted and agreed to once again join the city of Selma in paying for the July 4th firework show. Selma Mayor George Evans asked in a letter to the commission that the county join the city in funding the firework show. The cost is $15,000 for the nearly 30 minute firework show synchronized to music, and split 50-50 each entity would pay $7,500.

Before voting on whether they would enter in to the agreement, Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard said as far as the cost, it’s throwing money away, but said it’s a great opportunity for the county to partner with the city.

“I hate to blow $7,500 in 27 minutes, but I think it’s a real great thing that the city and county do together,” Ballard said. “This is a togetherness thing.”

The city and county have partnered half and half with the recent Cabela’s King Kat Tournaments and Ballard said, “It’s proven in tax returns to be a very good project.”

Ballard added that while the firework show probably doesn’t bring in much revenue in sales tax, people traveled from both Wilcox and Marengo County to watch the show in Dallas County last year.

“I think the merchants also benefit” County Commissioner Larry Nickels said. “Sometimes you can’t weigh good relationships and dollars and cents.”

County Commissioner Connell Towns, said he agreed that joining the city is a sign of good progress but said he thought there were a lot more projects they could find to use $7,000 on and suggested bringing in another entity to help both the city and the county lower their costs.

“We waited too late last year to get the public involved to help us pay for it, so I’ll bring that point up [at the meeting with the city with all interested parties],” Ballard said. “I’ll certainly make a suggestion at the earliest meeting we have that we sell sponsorships or something to defray the city and county’s cost. It’s doable and I’d like to see the community get involved.”