It could take a trip to Montgomery or Birmingham for citizens of Selma to get their driver’s license in the near future.

Representatives head back to Montgomery next week to start a second special session in an attempt to balance the general fund budget and cuts to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are among the proposed ideas.

If the proposed cuts to ALEA are passed, it could be harder than ever to get a driver’s license.

Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier announced plans earlier this week to close 70 offices by March 2016 if the agency doesn’t get enough funding from Alabama legislators.

Collier said the proposed cuts to the general fund would cut 22 percent to 47 percent of funding away from ALEA, which he said already operates at an $8.2 million deficit.

We understand there are obviously no easy solutions to the budget crisis. If there were, our lawmakers wouldn’t be heading back to Montgomery for a second special session after months and months of beating their heads against the wall trying to find a solution.

Nobody wants to see cuts, whether it be to state parks, to ALEA or other government funded departments, but in the end something has to go. We’re just not sure cutting ALEA to the bone is the best route to take.

If the cuts go through, Selma’s office for ALEA would close on March 1, 2016. The closures would start Oct. 1 by closing 33 offices that operate on a part-time basis. Phase one includes offices in Hayneville, Marion and Camden.

The second phase will go into effect Jan. 1 and will include 29 offices. A third and final phase would include Selma’s office and seven others, leaving only offices in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile open.

Although several of the department’s functions can be completed online, there are many reasons people may have to go to an office, such as obtaining a star I.D., changing addresses on a star I.D. and having a driver’s license reinstated. The road test required to get a license would also require a trip to Montgomery or Birmingham.

Dallas County is home for many residents that don’t have a way to drive to Montgomery or Birmingham to get their license or can’t afford to take a day off work to do so. Many others may not have internet access at home required to do some of the simpler tasks the department has on its website.

We’re not sure there’s a solution that’s going to appease anyone when it comes to the budget crisis, but there’s got to be a better solution than closing 70 offices for ALEA.