Public input sought on plan for Salem's $736 million budget
Meetings are underway to determine how the city will spend its $736 million budget.
Salem's Budget Committee, which is comprised of residents, the mayor, and members of the Salem City Council, is in the midst of considering the city manager's proposed budget.
Meetings started this month and will continue at 6 p.m. May 4 and May 11, with an additional meeting set for May 18 if needed. The meetings will be broadcast live via CC: Media’s YouTube page and Comcast Cable Channel 21.
The city’s combined $736 million budget covers the period from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. It includes estimates of revenue and costs of services and capital projects.
City officials said the proposed budget is guided by the 2021 – 2026 Salem Strategic Plan, Salem City Council’s 2022 policy agenda and city policies.
View the proposed budget online at cityofsalem.net/Pages/view-the-city-budget.aspx
Budget items include public safety, community and urban development, library, parks and recreation, street maintenance and water services.
City officials said priorities for this year's budget include:
Responding to the sheltering crisis by opening a 24/7 low-barrier navigation center, siting and operating micro-shelter village communities, developing more affordable housing and responding to community complaints for clean-up at scattered unmanaged sites.
Planning for the future by adopting the Our Salem comprehensive plan update and updating the transportation system plan and riparian inventory for natural resources.
Engaging the community by launching a new City of Salem website, sharing performance measures, and opening the Customer Service Center at Salem Civic Center.
Sustaining city infrastructure and services by pursuing a $300 million community improvement bond.
Specifically, the proposed budget includes:
$885,000 for the Homeless Rental Assistance Program.
$939,360 for a new team that will provide cleaning services to unsheltered camping sites.
$412,000 for maintenance of city art, including partnering with local donors to restore the Eco-Earth Globe at Riverfront Park.
$566,110 for additional Building and Safety Division staff to work with the construction industry on projects.
$500,000 for streetlight improvements, including putting decorative LED lights downtown.
$2.11 million for sidewalk installation and repair.
$4.9 million to upgrade the building that will be used for the new homeless navigation center, including adding showers and a commercial kitchen.
$5.7 million for parks landscape and facilities management.
$53.6 million from the general fund for the Police Department.
The budget process concludes with a City Council public hearing and adoption in June.
Residents can provide written testimony by sending an email to the Budget Committee at budgetoffice@cityofsalem.net by 3 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Residents can provide live, virtual testimony at the June public hearing by signing up online the day of the meeting between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Written testimony is accepted any time at budgetoffice@cityofsalem.net.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: What's next in deciding how the city will spend $736 million budget?
