Councilors authorized an internal city loan to support medical staffing and ambulance and equipment purchases, in preparation for the city’s takeover of ambulance service from private provider Falck in July 2025. The fire department expects to pay back the loan over a 10 year period with money generated by the new ambulance system.
City News
In poll, Salem residents say they won’t pay more property taxes for public safety, library or parks
Results of a city-commissioned poll released Wednesday show any city effort to bring a property tax increase to voters would likely fail at the ballot box. Councilors will discuss the results and what they mean for the city’s budget deficit at a meeting Monday.
City councilors vote in favor of land use decision benefitting campaign donor
City Councilors Julie Hoy and Deanna Gwyn approved a land use appeal that directly benefited Mountain West Investment Corp. a major campaign donor. Salem’s charter advises councilors to recuse themselves from certain votes concerning large donors.
Cannery redevelopment project gets green light from city
The developer buying the former Truitt Brothers cannery site on Front Street plans to preserve the 1914 building and two piers over the Willamette River while redeveloping the site as a 382-apartment neighborhood with a food hall, market and more.
City councilors to discuss authorizing funding for 60 new emergency medical employees
Councilors will vote on authorizing an internal city loan to support medical staffings in preparation for the city’s takeover of ambulance service from private provider Falck in July 2025.
Salem police cutting downtown, behavioral health teams
Salem police will be less able to respond to downtown nuisances and people in behavioral health crisis after disbanding two units on Jan. 1, 2025. Police Chief Trevor Womack says his staffing hasn’t kept up with rising service demand.
Salem-Keizer’s welcome sign keeps getting destroyed. Officials might just pull the plug
The Salem-Keizer “working together” sign at the cities’ border has been disfigured by car crashes repeatedly for almost two decades, costing Salem $72,000 in just the last three years. Officials are considering removing the brick structure.
Contractor tapped for $40 million Salem Civic Center retrofit project
Howard S. Wright, the company behind Salem’s new public works building and the recent seismic retrofit of Salem Public Library, is taking on another big project for the city.
Here’s how Salem-area governments spent their Covid relief money
Reports submitted by Marion and Polk counties and the city of Salem showed most money went toward infrastructure projects, general government services and homeless shelters.
Five key takeaways about the state of downtown Salem
Vacancy rates are low and developers are investing millions in downtown, but inflation, safety and parking remain challenges for business owners and customers alike.