The city of Selma will not make payroll this week, according to City Council President Corey Bowie.

Bowie said a city employee informed him Wednesday afternoon that “the city won’t make payroll Friday.”

Selma Mayor Darrio Melton, who did not return comment, said in his current status of the city there was the chance the city wouldn’t reach payroll by Oct. 19, leading to some public buildings and services closing. Melton also said the city council didn’t account for $1.2 million in debt payments when it passed a $17.4 million budget on Sept. 26.

Bowie said he didn’t know which buildings would close in the city because Melton hasn’t given him the list.

Bowie expressed disappointment in no dialogue between the council and Melton since the fiscal budget process.

“That’s why communication is important,” Bowie said. “Communication has to be open and honest from both sides.”

The news comes off the 68 city employees who were laid off on Monday. The 15-day notice alerted the employees that the layoff goes into effect after the close of business on Monday, Nov. 5.

It’s the latest in a long line of problems has faced at city hall before the 2018-2019 fiscal year began.

-Aug. 28:  The city council rejected Melton’s $22 million budget proposal and council administrative assistant Temekia Sykes was suspended two days.

-Sept. 26: City Treasurer Ronita Wade, Selma Police Department (SPD) officers Lt. Tory Neely, Sgt. Jeffrey Hardy and Sgt. Kendall Thomas were put on administrative leave. Keesha Parker of the SPD was fired.

-Oct. 12: Melton filed a lawsuit against the city council for trying to remove appointment powers of the police chief, fire chief and tax collector from the Mayor and give them to the council.