On May 20, 2025 Vote to SAVE Salem’s Libraries, Parks and Center 50+ and SHORE UP Salem’s Police and Fire services!
Salem has a 13.8 million dollar budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. This is a structural deficit, which means that even when there is no recession or other temporary problem, property tax revenue cannot keep up with City growth- it gets worse every year. Salem has grown more than 25% since 2000; revenue has not. This is the result of rising costs and statewide limits on property taxes. As the State Capital, Salem has $1.65 billion in State property within our city that cannot be taxed. Costs for public safety are rising far faster than inflation, driven by increasing pension costs, collective bargaining and loss of Federal funds.
HOW HAS SALEM RESPONDED TO THE SHORTFALL?
Short answer: Salem has laid off employees and cut back on everything.
- Budget Cuts: Salem has reduced library hours, parks maintenance, and positions within city departments, including police and fire. The City has not filled any job vacancies. Salem Police disbanded two entire units at the start of this year, and reduced its car theft staff to 1 officer. But the shortfall will continue to increase annually, with additional cuts needed every single year in the future.
- A City Efficiency Committee set up by new mayor Julie Hoy found that Salem is already managing its budget efficiently, and with fewer resources compared to similar cities.
- Seeking Additional Funding: Other Oregon cities, grappling with the same budget issues, have passed Local Option Levies to support city services: Tualatin, Bend, Medford, Ashland, and Corvallis. On February 24th, the Salem City Council and Mayor voted unanimously to send a Local Option Levy to voters. The levy, also known as a Livability Levy, would fund parks & recreation, libraries, and Center 50+programs. This would free up money in the General Fund to protect police, fire, and emergency response finances. If the Local Option Levy doesn’t pass, the $13.8 million dollar shortfall will mean cuts in all departments, including Police and Fire. The Local Option Levy will appear on Salem voters’ ballots for the special election on May 20, 2025.
HOW MUCH WILL THE LEVY COST?
Short answer: About $18.33 a month for the average Salem homeowner.
The levy on the ballot is for $0.98 per $1,000.00 of assessed (not Real) property valuation on the May 20 ballot. The owner of a typical home assessed at $224,000 would pay $18.33 per month or $220 per year, from 2025 through 2030.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LOCAL OPTION LEVY DOES NOT PASS?
Short answer: drastic cuts to city services that will get worse every year in the future.
Salem cannot run a deficit. By law it has to balance the budget., at parks and recreation, and two people at Center 50+ will be laid off this summer, according to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released April 9. Without the levy, cuts include:
PARKS
- An additional 30% of parks staff fired immediately. Without professional staff, the parks will see serious degradation, meaning higher remedial expenses in future
- Turning off water for restrooms, grass, drinking fountains and splash pads.
- Ending the city-sponsored summer parks program.
- Ending youth sports camps that provide affordable recreational options for kids.
LIBRARY
- More than half of the staff at Salem Public Library fired immediately.
- Completely and permanently closing the West Salem library branch.
- Reducing the main library hours from 38 to 20 hours a week.
- Cutting library programs like outreach to senior living facilities, early literacy programs, STEM classes and educational workshops.
CENTER 50+
- 2 employees fired immediately.
- Weekend and evening hours reduced.
- Classes cut.
- Family caregiver training eliminated.
- Respite program for families who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease limited.
POLICE and GENERAL SERVICES
- Less enforcement of parking and code compliance regulations.
- Fewer staff to conduct plan reviews for development.
- Eliminating purchases for equipment such as computers.
- Cutting supply budgets in half.
- Removing all nonmandatory training.
- No equipment replacement except for patrol vehicles.
WHO SUPPORTS THE LEVY?
Short answer: Pretty much everybody.
This is not a conservative or liberal issue. The Mayor and the entire City Council are in favor, as well as a coalition of businesses, unions and neighborhood organizations of all kinds. Here are some of the groups that have voiced support for the Salem Livability Levy:
Salem Police Union • Salem Firefighters Union • Salem Area Chamber of Commerce •
Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties • American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees • Marion County Democrats • League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties • Salem-Keizer School Board… and dozens of other groups and community leaders. For a more complete list of supporters and information, see https://www.yesforsalem.org/endorsements
WHAT CAN I DO?
Short answer: Vote YES for Salem, and get your friends and neighbors to vote too!
The election for the Local Option Levy is May 20, 2025.
Important Dates:
Voter registration deadline: April 29, 2025
Ballots mailed: Beginning May 1, 2025
Get a bumper sticker and a yard sign HERE.
We can keep our city going if we all pull together!
As Mayor Hoy wrote, “We want to be able to sustain our library, our Center 50+ and our parks at their current levels. We want to be able to do that. We don’t want anybody to lose their jobs. So, let’s get out there. Let’s get this levy passed so we can have the kinds of programs that you want to have here in Salem.”