Salem City Manager Chris Dorsey has presented Council with a proposed $119.3-million budget for next year. Budget workshops with departments begin next week.
Dorsey’s cover letter noted the proposed budget includes up to 4 percent increase for employees who are eligible, with a comparable cost of living increase for school personnel.
The city manager said the budget includes a proposed .02 cent decrease in the real estate tax rate.
Salem’s largest revenue comes from real estate taxes. Next year’s projection estimates $39.6 million, with an additional $11.6 million from personal property taxes on vehicles. Other major sources of revenue are $10 million from the utility consumer tax, $7.2 million from the motor vehicle license tax, $6.8 million from the meals tax.
Expected meals tax revenue shows a slight decrease due to the closing of several Salem restaurants, Dorsey told Council, but he noted at least one new restaurant is due to open in the next year.
The proposed budget includes adding a maintenance construction worker, a $370,000-automated leaf pickup machine and a replacement crane for the city garage.
Also, a part-time library worker position would become a full-time position, dedicated to youth services programs.
Other expenditures include $518,400 for new LED lights at Salem High School’s Spartan Field, $700,00 to replace the arena floor in the Civic Center, $250,000 to purchase a new ambulance for the Salem Fire Department, and $548,000 to purchase take-home vehicles for police officers living within Salem City limits.
Other large expenditures in the proposed budget include $480,000 to upgrade the Pomeroy sewer system, $1.4 million for Phase 1 of North Salem Water System Improvements.
The proposed budget reflects a net increase of 4.4 percent over the current budget, Dorsey said.
Salem City Schools’ proposed 2026 budget was also included in what Dorsey prepared for Councilmembers. The schools’ proposed budget shows revenue from the state of $34.6 million.
In other items at the April 14 meeting, Council heard from four people during the Citizen Comments period. They were:
- Kerita Knisely, who asked the city to purchase the oldest home in the city, Preston Place;
- John Breen, who said the Simms subdivision developed by Fralin violated the city’s requirements to which Fralin had agreed, such as trees not planted in section 1;
- Stella Reinhard, who wanted Council to allow people to speak more than the currently allotted five minutes per person. She also suggested ways to use the nine acres of Preston Place property, such as adding an event barn, a festival space and restaurant;
- Whitney Leeson, who distributed photographs of Preston Place to Councilmembers and suggested there could be a walking trail, wildflower garden and eventually, access to the Roanoke River Greenway.
Other items Council:
- Approved the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission budget for 2025-26, after a presentation by Michael Stewart;
- Approved a request by Salem Band Boosters to donate $541 equal to the amount of admissions tax paid at the annual Blue Ridge Regional High School Band Competition;
- Appropriated $10,000 from Virginia Tourism for a living history weekend in June, highlighting Gen. Andrew Lewis;
- Appropriated $2,500 for a Healthy Junior Farmers Program that would give young people $5 in tokens to spend on healthy items each market day at the Salem Farmers Market.
Mayor Renee Turk welcomed 23 Roanoke College students from Professor Cody Sexton’s state and local government class.
All five Salem City Councilmembers were present. The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.