Category City News

More than 100,000 Salem voters now have chance for say on proposed pay tax
County clerks in Marion and Polk counties have mailed out ballots that include a measure to decide the fate of Salem's city payroll tax. Election Day is Nov. 7.

Business groups spend big to defeat Salem payroll tax
Opponents of Salem’s payroll tax have raised nearly $170,000 to kill the tax according to campaign finance records. Donors include Americans for Prosperity, an advocacy group funded by two of the nation’s most influential people in politics, brothers Charles and David Koch.

Shelter builders, fire heroes, rose tenders among city-honored volunteers for 2023
Salem’s annual volunteer award ceremony on Monday, Oct. 16, recognized community members who fought fires, tended roses and educated their neighbors on local history.

Tell Salem traffic planners where your neighborhood needs stop signs, speed bumps
A new city tool allows residents to submit requests for traffic calming projects in neighborhoods to help inform future public works projects.

UPDATE: Councilors move forward changes to make single-room housing easier to build
During their Monday, Oct. 9 meeting, the Salem City Council moved plans to allow single-room housing in more areas and changes to west Salem streets forward to a public hearing.

Town Hall digs into heart of city payroll tax disagreement
At Salem Reporter’s Town Hall Wednesday, Salem City Council President Virginia Stapleton argued a wage tax is the best way to fund needed city services, while Preston Mann with Oregon Business & Industry said the city should consider the state or a levy to raise money.

Salem insurance agent loses license following identity theft conviction
Insurance agent Tricia Klock lost her insurance agent license last month, after being convicted of four counts of identity theft, and falsely representing insurance policies and coverage.

LIVE BLOG: Follow the Town Hall on city payroll tax
Salem Reporter’s Town Hall on Taxes on Wednesday at the Elsinore Theatre digs into a single question on the November ballot: should the city impose a new income tax on wage-earners and those self-employed to fund “community safety services?”

Town Hall on Wednesday puts spotlight on cases for, against Salem payroll tax
Voters in Salem will get ballots next week that include a measure on the city's new payroll tax. The measure could repeal the tax before it can take effect. A public Town Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 11, provides the pros and cons.