Keizer residents and businesses in July would start paying more to police the community under a plan supported Monday, May 4, by the Keizer City Council.

The council decided a fee increase is needed to cover mounting city costs and avoid layoffs. But they also gave businesses a break, suggesting a new monthly fee that’s considerably less than what city staff had recommended.

The plan would provide the city an extra $1.6 million in the next budget year that starts in July. That still wouldn’t be enough to fully fund the current operations of the Keizer Police Department, city officials said.

Every home and business property in Keizer now pays $6.90 a month to the city, adding to property taxes that support the Keizer Police Department.

Under the council’s plan, homeowners would see that jump to $10.62 a month. The increase would go into effect July 1 and continue through the end of the year if the plan is adopted by the city Budget Committee.

The council vote was unanimous, including Mayor Cathy Clark and Councilors Marlene Parson, Soraida Cross, Dan Kohler, Shaney Starr, Lore Christopher and Kyle Juran.

Since the fee was created in 2017, business properties have paid the same monthly fee as about 10,000 homeowners. That would change. Business properties would pay under a new formula based on their physical size, adding several hundred dollars a month for many owners.

Under the new plan, for instance, Target at Keizer Station would pay an estimated $900 a month in the coming months.

A police department analysis earlier this year showed a high demand for police services from Keizer businesses compared to homeowners.

City councilors Monday also decided on a second round of fee hikes starting in January. 

That plan would more than double what homeowners currently pay, boosting the monthly fee to $14.34 a month.

Juran was the lone councilor to vote against that plan.

Councilors want to chew over how to adjust the fee for businesses again in the new year. Juran and others were concerned a large increase would be too high a burden on businesses and discourage them from locating in Keizer.

The councilors indicated they still want to take some fee hike to voters this November. What remained unclear is if that vote would only be on the second round of fee hikes anticipated in 2027. 

The fee hike anticipated for July can be imposed by council action and there was no discussion by councilors whether that also would be put before voters this fall.

Whatever the course, the city is searching for a way to raise more money to keep the Keizer Police Department fully staffed.

Without the fee increase, the city would be short $2.8 million of covering the costs of the police agency. The two fee increases considered by councilors would come close to closing that gap but still would require the city to dip into its reserves for money.

Brown told councilors that if the monthly fee isn’t increased, the city would be forced to eliminate up to 10 jobs, including police positions.

This article was originally published in the Keizertimes, which shares ownership with Salem Reporter. Contact Editor Les Zaitz: [email protected].

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