Joe Siess

Mayor Julie Hoy said on her first day in office that gaining a better understanding of complex obstacles facing the city like the multimillion dollar

The committee, which was suggested by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties will include members of the public with knowledge and professional experience working with multimillion dollar budgets.

The Salem city budget committee met on Wednesday night to discuss the updated projection for the city’s budgetary deficit. Last Friday, the city announced that its forecast review team, a group convened by City Manager Keith Stahley, downgraded the deficit projection from about $18 million to roughly $14 million.

Leaders of the Marion County Republicans were part of a retinue of Oregonians in Washington, D.C. for President Trump’s inauguration Monday. Mike Slagle, the chair of the Marion County Republicans and the organization’s Vice Chair Jessica Davidson said the nation’s capital was cold but enthusiastic as the country swore in its new president.

Salem city councilors agreed they are likely to put a property tax increase on the May 2025 ballot to help pay for the library, parks and Center 50 +, but will decide how much of a tax increase to seek at a meeting next month.

The city of Salem is in contact with farmers and landowners in West Salem and Keizer about damage and cleanup procedures after two pipelines failed in December. Discharge data indicates West Salem residents heeded city directives to reduce water usage, city officials said.

Salem city councilors will vote Monday on advancing new airport fees that would generate an anticipated $50,000 to $100,000 annually. The extra revenue would help balance the airport’s budgetary shortfall which grew after Avelo Airlines brought commercial air service to Salem in 2023.

Nine Salem executives with experience in accounting, property management and auditing will spend the next two weeks taking a closer look at the city's budget.

Salem city councilors voted unanimously Monday to advance new airport fees to help close the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport's budgetary shortfall.

A group of financially-savvy executives from the public, private and nonprofit sectors gathered Wednesday to start looking through Salem's budget