Salem city councilors approved the city’s 2027 budget on Monday, June 22, funding expanded homeless camp cleanup and outreach programs as well as a fire department-run mobile crisis unit.

The new budget, which takes effect on July 1, gave the city an $824.6 million spending limit to pay for a range of services including public works, police and fire departments, the library and parks.

Salem City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke and Council President Linda Nishioka recused themselves from the vote citing conflicts of interest, and Councilor Mai Vang was absent.

Councilors Shane Matthews, Deanna Gwyn, Paul Tigan, Irvin Brown and Salem Mayor Julie Hoy voted to approve the budget.

The budget reflects a city strategy testing new services before committing permanent funding.

The budget passed Monday night continues the Salem Fire Department’s REACH team, which responds to people in crisis, at a cost of about $510,000. That does not include the cost of a mental health worker paid for by Marion County.

The REACH team began as a six-month pilot program in January to handle calls in downtown Salem and was recently expanded to northeast Salem.

The new budget also continues the expansion of two city teams that responded to homeless camps – the police department’s Homeless Services Team and the civilian Salem Clean Team. City councilors voted in October to expand both teams so they could work seven days a week.

The two positions added to the clean team cost the city $287,000 and the expanded police positions for the Homelessness Services Team costs $381,480.

The program expansions were made possible only after Salem voters accepted a property tax increase in May 2025. The levy diverted funds to pay for community services leaving more general fund money for public safety services.

Also before the council  

Lien forgiveness – Approved unanimously

What’s happening? 

• Councilors voted unanimously to continue a lien forgiveness program that began last November to address blighted buildings in Salem, a staff report from Community Planning & Development Director Kristin Retherford showed. 
• Now that it is approved, the program will be extended until June 30, 2027. 
• The program aims to revitalize properties that have become an eyesore or drain on city resources by forgiving unpaid penalties in exchange for investments in cleanup and redevelopment. 

Property stats: 

• Since November 2025, 22 out of 78 eligible property owners have applied to the program, the report said. 
• All 22 applicants were accepted, and 13 of them have completed their property improvements. 
• 9 of the applicants are actively working to mitigate code violations on their properties. 
• So far the city forgave 40 liens through the program with a total value of about $200,000. 

FEMA grant for Geren Island Water Treatment plant – Approved unanimously

What’s happening? 

• Councilors unanimously approved authorizing the city manager to apply for a nearly $11 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help pay for the design and construction of a new bridge for the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility, a staff report from Public Works Director Brian Martin showed. 
• The city is required to match the FEMA grant by 25%, a sum that is already factored into the city’s current Capital Improvement Plan. 
• Estimated construction costs are about $14 million. 

More on the bridge replacement: 

• The facility is the primary treatment plant for Salem’s drinking water supply, making the bridge replacement a critical piece of future infrastructure. 
• The current bridge was built in 1965, and the new one will meet modern design standards. 
• An open section under the new bridge will be designed to handle storm flows which are expected to increase because of climate change. 

Council considers appointments to boards and commissions – Approved unanimously

What’s happening? 

• Councilors voted unanimously on several appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions on Monday night.
• Some boards and commission positions are appointed by the council, and others are appointed by the mayor. 
• The appointments commission includes Hoy as chair, and councilors Shane Matthews, Deanna Gwyn and Nordyke. 

Who’s being considered? 

• Laura Buhl and Gary Obrey were appointed to full terms on the Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission expiring on Dec. 31, 2028. 
• Lora Walker, David Rheinholdt and Bradley Bohnstedt were appointed to full terms on the Community Police Review Board expiring on Jan. 1, 2028. 
• Theresa Scott was appointed to a full term to the Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board expiring on June 30, 2028. 
• Marilyn Harbur was appointed to a partial term on the Salem Parks & Recreation Advisory Board expiring on Dec. 31, 2026. 
• Seth Short was appointed to the Salem Public Art Commission expiring on Dec. 31, 2028. 
• Debbie Lockhart and David Levy were reappointed to the Salem Public Library Advisory Board expiring on June 30, 2029. 
• Jonathan Castro Monroy and Mawadda Amboun were appointed to partial terms on the Salem Public Library Advisory Board. Castro Monroy’s term ends on June 30, 2028, and Amboun’s term ends on June 30, 2027.  

Mayoral appointments to Human Rights Commission 

What’s happening? 

• Mayor Hoy announced Monday her appointments to the city’s Human Rights Commission, a staff report showed.  

Who got appointed? 

• Haley Barenbaum, Georgia Smith and Brian Fordham were appointed to full three year terms on the Human Rights Commission. 
• Lucy Hamer was appointed to a partial term on the commission expiring Dec. 31, 2027. 

Capital improvement plan  – Approved

What’s happening? 

• Councilors adopted the Capital Improvement Plan for 2027, according to a staff report from Chief Financial Officer Josh Eggleston. 
• The plan includes projects expected to cost a total of about $400 million over the next five years. Projects include community facilities, municipal facilities, transportation and utilities. 

Proposed rule changes for boards and commissions 

What’s happening? 

• Councilors received a report on proposed amendments to city code updating, modifying and standardizing requirements to serve on boards, commissions and committees, according to a report from City Attorney Dan Atchison.

Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected]. 

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