Four months into the fiscal year, Selma Mayor Darrio Melton presented the council with a new budget last week. The city was operating on the previous year’s operating budget, but now has a new budget on the table.

This is not the first time the mayor presented a budget to the council though. He presented one in October, but the drama of firing now former city treasurer Ronita Wade interrupted. Finally, the city has another budget and can hopefully move on.

But not after careful review. There are plenty of cuts throughout the budget Melton handed down to council members, including a 100 percent cut of discretionary money from council members.

Overall, Melton said he cut 30 percent of the city’s operational costs. He also eliminated 27 positions that were not filled. Many other departments also had their budgets cut. Now that a budget is on the table for a second time, we hope the council and mayor go through it item by item and make a decision. The budget is now in the council’s hands. Taxpayers deserve a great budget.