Category City News

VOTE 2025: What to know about the May 20 special election in Salem
Your May 20 election ballot may include four school board seats, a new Salem city councilor and a Salem property tax levy. Here's a guide to learning more about local races, checking your party registration and more.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek backs Salem livability levy, concept of state payment to capital city
Gov. Tina Kotek says she'll vote for a city of Salem property tax measure to pay for libraries and parks on the May ballot.

Salem city councilors to hear auditing update Monday
The Salem City Council will hear an update Monday on the city’s performance auditing program as part of its efforts to reduce cost and improve efficiency. A recently completed performance audit on the Urban Renewal Agency found the agency lacks a strategic plan to guide future endeavors and is ineffective in communicating its value to the public.

Weigh in on which transportation projects Salem-area planners should fund
The Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study will decide how to allocate $28 million in federal money. Proposals include a multi-use path along 25th Street, sidewalk extensions on several Salem roads and new paratransit vehicles.

Where to learn more about Salem candidates for school board, city council
Forums over the next two weeks give Salem residents a chance to meet candidates who will be on the May ballot.

Community support for preserving Salem library comes into focus during budget meeting
Budget committee members on Wednesday expressed concerns that deep cuts to Salem’s library and other services would hit low-income residents hardest, but city officials say there are no good alternatives without raising taxes.

Residents raise questions about long-term plans to fix city budget gap at town hall
A town hall hosted by Salem Reporter on Tuesday drew hundreds for a discussion about Salem’s proposed property levy, which aims to prevent cuts to services like the library and parks by taxing property owners.

City council approves $200,000 settlement for man after sewage floods home
Salem City Councilors unanimously approved a settlement with Elias Villegas after several inches of sewer water flooded his home after a sewer back-up in December.

City terminates Rudy’s Steakhouse lease over unpaid rent
Notices posted on Rudy's Steakhouse Tuesday afternoon indicated the city of Salem was repossessing the space, leaving the future of the 27-year-old restaurant up in the air.