Category City News
Salem police, fire spending skyrocketed over 2 decades while staff stayed flat, budget data shows
Salem Reporter took a historic look at the budget for two of the city’s most expensive departments, police and fire. The agencies’ staffing hasn’t kept up with rising costs, and their spending has grown far faster than inflation.
Salem City Council votes unanimously to put property tax increase before voters in May
If Salem voters approve a tax levy in May, the average homeowner would pay about $229 per year to avoid deep cuts to city services like the library, parks maintenance and Center 50+.
High wind brings multiple power outages to Salem area
This story was updated at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday after power had been restored. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, power has been restored to more than 3,400 Salem homes and businesses after they lost power Monday night as high winds and rain swept through the area. …
Sewer blockage causes over 2,000 gallons of raw sewage to spill into Waln Creek
Over 2,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into Waln Creek Sunday afternoon after a sewer blockage led to an overflow. This is Salem’s third sewer spill in two months.
Potential flooding, heavy rainfall expected in Salem through Tuesday
The Willamette River in Salem rose about five feet in the past 24 hours, but creeks and rivers in Salem are expected to remain below flood stage.
Salem city councilors to vote Monday on putting $14 million tax levy on May ballot
Salem city councilors will formally vote Monday on putting a five-year property tax levy on the May 2025 ballot after months of discussions. It would cost the average Salem homeowner about $230 per year and avoid steep cuts to the city’s library, senior center, parks maintenance and public safety.
Salem city councilors support closing second runway at city airport
Councilors and city employees said it’s not feasible for the city to spend millions fixing up a secondary runway at Salem’s airport, and closing it down would allow the city to make more money through leases.
A timeline of statements surrounding Salem city manager’s resignation
City officials have issued multiple apparently contradictory statements about the circumstances surrounding City Manager Keith Stahley's abrupt departure last week. Salem Reporter collected them all in one place.
City reverses course, saying councilor never asked city manager to resign
City Attorney Dan Atchison and Council President Linda Nishioka both issued statements over the weekend disputing former Salem City Manager Keith Stahley’s characterization of the events leading up to his abrupt resignation last week. The statements said Nishioka never asked Stahley to resign and never suggested she represented the council.