While hard times seem to have fallen on the city’s finances, the spirit of openness and cooperation between Mayor George Evans and the Selma City Council make this bitter pill a little easier to swallow.

Evans came out with news of city layoffs and cutbacks during Monday’s council work session. Instead of wailing and gnashing of teeth or wringing of hands, Evans approached the issue calmly and deliberately and with a plan.

Facts are overspending by the city and the national recession have hit the city’s coffers pretty hard. The city isn’t broke, but it needs to cinch its fiscal belt tightly.

Already, Evans has worked with department heads to cut back where the city can. He has not reached his goal yet, but will continue to work until he does so.

Instead of pointing the finger and laying blame, the council also showed responsibility by offering to cut some its fat in travel, salary and discretionary funds.

These kind of rational approaches to difficult situations provide a much better foundation for building up the city.

The council and mayor have made some hard choices. More will follow. But they’re working together in an open forum, and the public should appreciate that.