Your Tuesday evening update on Salem news

Good evening, Salem.

Your property tax statement could get crowded over the coming year.

The Salem-Keizer School District is the latest local government body to float the idea of asking voters for a tax increase. District leaders discussed the possibility with the school board at a weekend retreat.

The school board doesn’t have a solid timeline yet. Their discussion comes as the Salem City Council is also considering asking voters to approve a levy. We’ll know more on that after a city council work session later this month.

Many of the same issues are fueling budget shortfalls for both the city and school district.

Tax limits Oregon voters passed in the 1990s mean property tax revenues don’t increase as fast as the cost of employees and materials needed to run schools or pave roads.

Salem’s status as the state capital also means a large share of land is owned by the state and other government entities. No tax is collected on that property, leaving homeowners and businesses to cover the costs of running local government.

School district leaders said they’ll continue to advocate for more state money to come to local schools districts.

We’ll keep you posted on all the moving pieces and what they’ll mean for your neighborhood school – and your pocketbook.

Here’s some of today’s news. Read all our latest coverage anytime on our website.

www.salemreporter.com

Salem-Keizer leaders consider levy as potential solution to school district budget gap

School district leaders are beginning discussions about seeking a property tax increase from voters to hire more educators, but have no concrete timeline to put a levy on the ballot.

www.salemreporter.com

Sheila’s Dream to provide homeless families place to find their footing

The first family has already moved into a new building expansion at St. Francis Family Housing, funded entirely by community donors. The expansion added five new apartments to help homeless…

www.salemreporter.com

Utility watchdog asks state to intervene on proposed double-digit electricity rate hikes

The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board wants Oregon regulators to cap annual electricity rate increases. PGE rates have increased more than 30% in the past two years.

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Salem-Keizer leaders consider levy as potential solution to school district budget gap

Sheila’s Dream to provide homeless families place to find their footing

Utility watchdog asks state to intervene on proposed double-digit electricity rate hikes

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