Selma’s annual audit will be late this year and that has at least some of the Selma City Council concerned.

Councilman Glenn Sexton believes the fees given Polmatier and Long aren’t reasonable. &uot;We’re seven months into the new fiscal year, and we haven’t seen the audit report yet,&uot; Sexton said.

According to Charles Polmatier, the city’s audit supervisor, there are several reasons for the delay in the city’s fiscal year 2002-2003 audit. Those reasons include: turnover in the city’s finance office, a previous lack of monitoring of the city’s books by a qualified accountant and new governmental regulations.

Polmatier was quick to add, though, that he didn’t believe any misappropriation of funds was occurring.

Mayor James Perkins Jr. agreed that personnel changes played a role in the delayed audit. &uot;The appointment process broke down, and it shows,&uot; Perkins said. &uot;Because of Mitchell and the auditors, we’re going to fix matters and get the records back on track. I feel real good about the financial records I’m receiving now. They’re understandable and verifiable.&uot;

Sexton didn’t agree.

Councilwoman Rita Sims Franklin agreed. &uot;I do not see an excuse why this audit is this late,&uot; she said. &uot;We need to know where we stand money-wise.&uot;

Four city employees have handled the city’s finances since 2002. Former Finance Director Bob Sanders was placed on administrative leave in October 2002. Smith served as the interim finance director until her retirement after 25 years of service in January 2003. Former Finance Director Vickie Locke began working on March 17, 2003. She was placed on administrative leave during the summer of 2003. Mitchell became the acting city treasurer on Aug. 25, 2003, and was appointed treasurer in October.

Sexton said that many people in the city’s finance office have worked there for years with Mitchell being one of a few new hires.

Polmatier said he is putting a plan together so the city can eliminate any questions.

Polmatier said the city’s audit usually begins around Thanksgiving each year. This year it began in late February, according to Mitchell. &uot;Usually, when the audit’s done, those in administration have to answer questions,&uot; Mitchell said. &uot;I entered at the end of fiscal year 2003 and wasn’t involved in that part. We didn’t start at the usual time, but we’ll be back on track next fiscal year.&uot;

Mitchell also echoed Polmatier’s opinion on the state of Selma’s finances. &uot;Selma’s not losing money,&uot; she said. &uot;We’re able to meet all our obligations.&uot;

According to Bill Long, the city’s auditor, the final stages of the audit will begin at the end of April, though he didn’t know when it would be presented to the council. Long pointed to new governmental regulations as a reason for the delay. &uot;This is the first year that they’ve had to do this,&uot; Long said. &uot;It’s making local governments, states, etc., record their figures in the manner that a business would.&uot;

Franklin dismissed the new governmental regulations as a reason for the delay. &uot;This hasn’t been dumped on them in the last month or so,&uot; she said. &uot;We’ve known about it for two years. It’s not that much trouble to close the books.&uot;

Polmatier was the city’s auditor for the past four years. However, because he is currently assisting the city in an advisory role, he and his company, BKR Borland Benefield, no longer audit the city. This is the first year that Long, with Caston Long & Company, is auditing the city.

Both Polmatier and Long are paid $85 per hour.

Perkins said council members shouldn’t have been surprised by the late audit.

Perkins estimated that the audit would be presented in late May, but noted that he hadn’t discussed the date with the city’s auditors.