Salem, OR – The Salem City Council will meet Monday night to decide how much of a property tax increase they will ask voters to approve in May. The goal is to raise funds to help cover a $14 million budget deficit while avoiding significant cuts to essential services, including the library, parks, and Center 50+.
City staff have presented two options for the council to consider, both of which would increase property taxes for the average Salem homeowner by either $230 or $250 annually. The two proposed levies are set at rates of $1.09 or $0.98 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The decision to place the measure on the May 20 ballot is not final, as the councilors could also choose to forgo the levy and seek other solutions to address the budget gap. However, during previous discussions, a majority of councilors have expressed support for the tax increase, recognizing that the alternative could mean severe service cuts across the city.
Should the levy fail to pass, the city could face drastic reductions in services, including the potential layoff of police officers, cuts to library operating hours, and the closure of public facilities such as splash pads and a fire station. These cuts would affect vital community services, and city officials are stressing the importance of voter support to avoid such outcomes.
The final decision on whether to move forward with the tax increase will be made by the city council during Monday’s meeting, with the ballot measure scheduled for voter approval on May 20.
