Differing approaches on homelessness, development come into focus at chamber council debate
Different approaches to homelessness and development between the two opposing slates vying for four seats on the Salem City Council came into sharper contrast during a forum on Monday, April 13.
The candidate debate, organized by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, included all eight candidates seeking election May 19.
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This reporting is a good example of why I am a strong supporter of Salem Reporter. It is fair, balanced, detailed, non-judgmental, and informative. It gives me good information to help me make an informed vote.
Salem has been growing rapidly (over half a percent per year) for decades. What growth will be enough to balance our budget without sales or income taxes, when property taxes are limited to 3% increase per year by the State. I’m curious what ‘growth’ we would need to fix our lack of income and how long it would need to be sustained.
Thank you Salem Reporter for the excellent summary of the Chamber’s City Councilor candidate forum.
The apparent problem: Not enough funds to pay for Salem city services.
The offered solutions:
A. Avoid new taxes vs increase fees and taxes for desired services.
B, Grow the tax base via facilitating new business and industry by reducing local development fees vs support current solution efforts for the urban camper problem and the property tax restrictions caused by the State of Oregon.
The unaddressed issues:
1. Given our limited resources, which specify services shall we agree to eliminate?
2. What responsibility do Salem citizens have fund which community services?
3. When are Salem residents going to wake up and address our aging roads, sewers and plumbing?
Did everyone catch this line, “Chamber CEO Tom Hoffert said that the candidates were not provided the questions in advance, though some candidates appeared to be reading prepared statements in response to questions.” Shame on the Chamber.
Thank you for providing both sides of the debate on the issues. I plan to vote for the conservative candidates, because Salem needs a radical change in the way we address homelessness!