Salem budget committee recommends city spending, cuts for 2026 

The interim city manager’s proposed budget scenario which drastically cuts city services is one step closer to becoming a reality after the city’s budget committee voted to move it forward Wednesday night. 

The proposed budget would cut library hours roughly in half, turn off water fountains and splash pads at city parks, reduce parks maintenance and recreation staff by 30%, and cut two part-time staff members at Center 50+. 

The budget committee passed Interim City Manager Krishna Namburi’s proposed budget scenario with no substantial changes. In a split 5-11 vote, the committee also opted not to revisit an alternative budget scenario that made deeper cuts to the police and fire in exchange for fewer cuts elsewhere.

The alternate scenario proposed cutting one fire station, nine police officers, one police sergeant, one police corporal, and one crime lab technician which would reduce fire response times and the police department’s investigative capacity and ability to address violent crime, according to slides presented to the committee.  

Committee members heard the alternative budget scenario last week which showed how police and fire services would be affected if service cuts were spread out more equitably. During Wednesday’s meeting, they voted against discussing it in more detail.

The alternate scenario proposed cutting roughly six full-time jobs from community services, such as the library and parks, as opposed to the current proposal of roughly 42 full-time jobs, the slides showed. 

The budget committee includes all eight city council members and nine community members.

During Wednesday’s meeting, member Evan Manvel proposed that the committee revisit the alternative budget proposal on May 28.

“The city manager’s proposed budget guts the library which is already limping along. We need to take that seriously. We need to listen to the people who have spoken, and we need to flesh out the actual choice in front of us instead of just going along with the one recommendation,” Manvel said after making his motion. “I imagine that if we pass this budget tonight, the recommended budget, without considering other options, we are going to make the news. We are going to make the news as the city that gutted its library and potential people thinking about moving to Salem are going to know that about Salem.” 

Manvel said he understood the difficult situation Namburi was in when she came up with the proposed budget but said it was a decision to “cut off a leg and hope the voters sow it back with the levy.” 

Manvel said regardless of whether the levy passes, cuts to police and fire will eventually come, and that taking a long term approach to public safety includes funding parks, libraries and community centers to give young people more opportunities to thrive. Manvel was joined by budget committee members Nick Beleiciks, Stacey Vieyra-Braendle, Julie Curtis and Mel Fuller who voted in favor. 

City councilors Linda Nishioka, Irvin Brown, Paul Tigan, Shane Matthews, Deanna Gwyn, Micki Varney and Mayor Julie Hoy voted against the motion. They were joined by members Bill Dixon, David Gier, Vice-Chair Andrew Cohen and Chair Russell Allen. Councilor Vanessa Nordyke was absent. 

The prevailing committee members argued for a conservative and proactive approach and to advance the budget given the uncertainty that the levy will pass. If it does pass, the city will continue funding the library, parks and recreation and Center 50+, at least for the five-year life of the levy.

The proposed budget as it currently stands will likely be adopted by city council on June 23 unless Salem residents accept the property tax increase on May 20. 

The levy would increase annual property taxes by about $220 for the average home in Salem, and would free up general fund revenue to avoid cuts in other departments as the city faces a nearly $14 million deficit. 

“There are times, in times of crisis, that you have to cut off the leg to save the rest of the body. That you can’t just keep cutting across the board,” Allen said prior to calling for a vote. “It feels good, but there are times when you just can’t allow all of the services to perform subpar, you have to start making tough decisions. And I think that is kind of what is being looked at in this budget.” 

Salem Reporter answers your questions about city tax levy and what comes next

Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.

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