Salem City Council to cast final vote on whether to send library, parks levy to voters

Salem City Council is set to cast its final vote Monday on whether to send a livability levy to voters in the May election.

Without additional funds provided by the livability levy property tax, Salem’s main library and West Salem branch could face closure or severely reduced hours and services. The Center 50+ could also face closure due to the city’s projected $13.8 million budget deficit.

Maintenance, irrigation, splash pads, drinking fountains and restroom operations could cease at parks.

During the Feb. 10 meeting, council voted to return with a resolution for a less costly local option levy to send voters in May.

Council voted unanimously to direct staff to draft a resolution to refer a five-year community services and livability local option levy to voters on May 20 at the levy rate of $0.98 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The high levy rate of $1.09 per $1,000, which would have funded restoring library hours, adding library staff positions and creating a mobile team to reach underserved areas, was passed over in favor of a cheaper option that councilors hoped had a better chance of voters approving.

The deadline for getting the property tax levy on the ballot is Feb. 28.

The $0.98 rate would maintain 37.5 FTE library positions, 45 parks FTE positions, five recreation FTE positions and nine Center 50+ FTE positions and add three library assistants to restore the main branch to 48 hours a week and the West Salem branch to 20 hours a week.

Both branches cut their hours in January 2024 to adjust to lower staffing levels. The main branch eliminated night-time hours and Sunday service. The West Salem branch is only open two days a week.

A scenario by city staff used the $0.98 levy rate to determine it would cost the average household $229 a year. It would bring in an estimated $14 million in fiscal year 2026.

The General Fund would no longer pay for levy-funded services, ensuring stable funding for other General Fund services such as police, fire and emergency response, city officials said.

City staff said revenue from the levy would be placed in a special account. The city would also form an oversight committee to guarantee the revenue from the levy will only be used for purposes outlined in the measure.

Other Salem City Council agenda items

• A report on the findings and recommendations of the City Efficiency Committee. In a letter to council, the committee formed to find inefficiencies within the city found no significant waste in General Fund operations and determined Salem “is doing more with significantly fewer resources than cities of similar size.”

• An informational overview of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Center Street Bridge Project to seismically retrofit one of Salem’s main bridges over the Willamette River.

• A quarterly report on economic development.

• An informational report on the 2024 Financial Audit of the city.

• A report on Salem Public Works Department’s strategic plan.

• Updated City Council committee assignments for 2025.

• A proclamation declaring March 2 to March 8 as “Women in Construction Week.”

How to participate in the Salem City Council meeting

The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person in the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, and can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish.

Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting.

Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem City Council to vote on sending library, parks levy to voters

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