Councilors who voted no on payroll tax address Salem budget questions

The Salem payroll tax is set to go to the ballot in November, following a referendum petition that organizers say gathered nearly 13,000 signatures.

The petition came after a July 10 council meeting, where city councilors voted 5-4 to impose a 0.814% tax on wages earned in the city above minimum wage without prior voter approval. The tax aims to address a city budget deficit, and sustain and expand emergency response and homeless services in…