With the holiday season right around the corner, city of Selma employees will have a little extra money in their pockets.

The Selma City Council approved a one-time raise for all employees Tuesday night during its meeting which totals around $400,000.

“I think [the employees] feel real good about it, and it is exciting to have a lump sum of money rather than getting that money over 52 weeks,” said Selma Mayor George Evans.

Evans said employees will get their raise around Thanksgiving just in time for Black Friday, which is the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.

The amount of the raise will depend on the number of years of service employees have with the city and whether they are part-time or full-time employees.

“It is going to be the same amount it was last year depending on years of service,” Evans said.

“It is going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,600 roughly. For the majority of employees it may be less depending on their job, whether it is part-time or full-time.”

Evans said the lump sum is somewhere between a 3 and 5 percent raise for most employees.

“For employees making $20,000 or less, a five percent raise, which sounds good, do you know how much that is?,” Evans asked the council.

“One thousand dollars that is figured in over 52 weeks, and when you get through taking the numbers off of 52 weeks you may see $15 or $10 each pay period.”

City employees have received one-time raises the last two years during the holiday season. Each year the council has to vote on it, but some council members want to make it permanent so employees aren’t wondering if they are getting the raise or not.

“The city has done very well to be able to give a 3 to 5 percent raise for the last two years, and we have the money to do it again,” said councilman Cecil Williamson. “I think we should go on and make the raise permanent and set aside the money each year out of this fund, so we don’t have to deal with this every September.”

Evans said he would like to make it a permanent raise, but it depends on funding each year from a half-cent sales tax.