Salem budget committee directs city leaders to prioritize fire, police, library and homeless outreach team

Salem’s budget committee on Wednesday directed city leaders to prioritize funding Salem’s fire department, police department, library and homeless outreach team while crafting a budget for 2025.

The fate of the city’s library, as well as other community services such as Center 50 + and parks maintenance, was a primary topic at the meeting as the group got to work on addressing Salem’s projected $18 million budgetary shortfall. 

The 18-member budget committee, which includes the…