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The Finance Committee of the Selma City Council is planning to review the March financial statement during an upcoming committee meeting after unexpected expenditures and revenues appeared in the latest report.

Councilman Troy Harvill, the committee chairman, said he wants the finance committee to go over it line item by line item.

“If you have any questions, please send them to me,” Harvill told the rest of the council during Monday’s city council meeting.

Councilman Clay Carmichael had several questions about the financial statement, which covers the first six months of the budgetary year. Some line items, Carmichael said, had nearly exhausted or significantly went over their budget. He also pointed out that several line items had revenues appear, most notably for monies collected for demolished houses.

He also noted that some of the expenses appeared to be contracted items. One item appeared to have a constant monthly expense at $4,400, which per month stayed below the council’s $5,000 threshold for contracts needing council approval. After at least two months, however, the expense would exceed the threshold. Some other regular payments could even exceed the state’s $30,000 threshold that is required for contracts to be bid.

Council President Billy Young said he “lost track” of some of the items brought up by Carmichael, but those mentioned by Carmichael would appear in the minutes. Council members could refer back to the minutes on what was questioned during the meeting.

Several council members expressed concern over apparent contracts the city had entered into without council approval.

Mayor James Perkins Jr. and other members of the executive cabinet were not present for the treasurer’s report given by City Treasurer Janice Stewart. This report was given near the end of a three-hour city council meeting. Perkins and members of the administrative staff had already left the meeting by that time and were not present to answer questions about the specific line items.