Selma Mayor George Evans has a tough decision on his plate.

On the one hand, he can continue to let those allegedly responsible for the mishandling of an estimated $30,000 in municipal court funds continue to work in their current roles, or, on the other hand, decide to remove them while the legal and review process takes its course.

It is our belief the mayor has only one decision and that is to place these employees on administrative leave until the attorney general has reviewed the case and made a decision.

Many have quickly pointed out these employees preceded Evans’ administration and that their mistakes — if any were made — happened under the previous administration’s — Mayor James Perkins — watch.

Even that is the case, the fact is that Mayor Evans is in the office now and it is his problem to solve.

Mayor Evans has clearly stated to state auditors and city council members alike that the procedures and policies that were in place when mistakes were reportedly made have been revised or otherwise replaced.

But, it is hard for anyone to have trust in a system where the polices and procedures have fundamentally changed and the people who allegedly made the mistakes remain.

The administrative leave option allows the employees to maintain their benefits and salaries while a review is carried out. If the review comes back and says the employees were not at fault, then they should quickly be reinstalled in their positions.

Mayor Evans has a tough decision on his hands. But, it is a decision that unfortunately comes with the office the majority of Selmians elected him to.