A deficit no more &045;&045; or so it appears.

After reviewing the mayor’s proposed budget for 2002-03 at a Selma City Council work session Monday, Finance Director Bob Sanders said, that rather than being in a $429,000 deficit that the city is currently showing a $127,000 surplus.

Sanders attributed the recently announced surplus to a &uot;communication glitch&uot; that previously occurred between the treasurer’s office, which is responsible for accounts receivable, and the finance office, which is responsible for accounts payable.

Specifically, Sanders said the &uot;glitch&uot; had to do with reimbursements that weren’t reported to him by the treasurer’s office, which is headed by City Clerk Jackie Smith.

Sanders said the reimbursements included such things as payroll at the library, the Summer Food Program, &uot;and various other things&uot; that weren’t reported.

Added Sanders, &uot;Jackie and I just didn’t get together.&uot;

Sanders said he first saw the treasurer’s office figures on the day the deficit was announced during a previous work session.

Mayor James Perkins Jr., in a interview after the meeting, when asked about the change in figures, first said he could not comment on &uot;personnel issues.&uot;

He added, &uot;As it relates to the budget, nobody believed those [original] figures anyway to begin with. That’s why I asked we go back and take a look at it.