Meg Hibbert, Contributing writer
At the April 27 meeting, Salem City Council unanimously approved Salem Schools’ 2027 fiscal budget, as well as budgets for the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission and Roanoke Valley Resource Authority.
Salem School Board Chairman Andy Raines presented the proposed $71,080-million budget that includes $64,800-million in the main budget, $3 million in grants and $2.17-million in the cafeteria budget.
“Revisions may have to be made after the state budget is adopted,” Raines said. He pointed out the Salem school budget includes a 4.5-percent raise for teachers and administrators and a 7-percent raise for support staff.
Raines said the budget includes one-fourth million in state funds from 600 students who participate on line. “Technically they are Salem students but we never see them,” he added.
The Salem School Board Chair thanked Salem Council for continued unwavering support. “Salem has a proud history of overcoming challenges,” Raines said.
Mike Stewart, president and CEO of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, presented the $38.3-million 2027 operational budget. “I’m not asking for any money,” Stewart said. “We are anticipating a strong year.”
He pointed out the largest carrier, American, has Dallas-Fort Worth flights. The airport’s recently added flights to Sarasota, Fla., are not full, he said.
There is a timeline for runway extension, Stewart said, but did not give details. “The runway extension was high on our legislative priorities list,” City Manager Chris Dorsey added.
Jon Lanford presented the $19.8-million budget for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. It includes increases of $1.75 per ton municipal tipping fees and $2 per ton commercial tipping fees.
Plans are to develop two landfill cells instead of one at one time at the Smith Gap Landfill, which, Lanford said, should last 20 years.
He mentioned in the past six weeks there were two significant fires, one from a battery at the Smith Gap Landfill in Roanoke County, and the other from a hot municipal vehicle at the Tinker Creek facility.
Four Council members were present Monday night: Mayor Renee Turk, Vice Mayor AnneMarie Green, and Councilmen Randy Foley and Hunter Holliday. Councilman John Saunders was absent.
The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
