Salem’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 includes a series of “tough choices,” including cutting 7.25 positions at the Salem Public Library, eliminating a graffiti enforcement employee, Housing-focused outreach team operated by the Salem Housing Authority and a youth services development program. , city leaders say.
The 7.25 library positions to be eliminated are expected to save $1.168 million and would result in the closure of the West Salem branch as well as additional hours and service reductions at the Main Salem Public Library.
The proposed budget of $724.6 million for 2025 covers the period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 and includes estimates of revenues and costs for services and capital projects.
Fire and police, two departments under the general fund, remained largely unscathed. Salem police would add a police records technician and a limited-term position for its community violence reduction initiative.
Ongoing shelter programs, such as micro-shelter sites, would remain open by switching from the General Fund to state grants for shelter.
In addition to the eliminations detailed in the proposed budget, all general fund departments are required to reduce their materials and services budgets by 1 percent and their procurement budgets by 10 percent, or approximately $430,000 in total.
The budget was distributed to Citizen Budget Committee members Friday afternoon and posted online.
Proposed budget kicks off deliberations ahead of Salem City Council vote
The official submission of the proposed budget by the municipal manager marks the beginning of the deliberation process of the citizen budget committee.
The 18-member committee is made up of resident members, the mayor and municipal councilors. Its role is to review quarterly financial reports and five-year financial forecasts, then analyze and recommend a budget to the City Council and adopt the City’s property tax levy rate.
The committee will begin its work with the first of four meetings scheduled beginning April 17 at 6 p.m. at the Salem City Council…