The Salem City Council passed its $19.2-million budget at Monday night’s meeting.
There were no comments at the public hearing and the council passed the budget with virtually no comments after the extensive discussion earlier on the special use for the craft cannabis facility.
Finance Director Keli Barrow told the council at the last meeting there is a small $42,000 deficit as a result of a shortfall in the gas fund and transferred to the police pension fund, but there was $18-million in reserves to cover the shortfall.
The city is finishing up an extremely positive budget year, with revenue $800,000 in excess of projections for several revenue sources. The council agreed to move $400,000 to help the park fund that finishes with a deficit each year and the other $400,000 to fund more of the police pension liability. Barrow says the city is now over the 51-percent mark towards full funding of the pension.
Bids were approved on two projects to allow them to move forward. JK Trotter and Sons was awarded a $320,000 bid to replace the waterline on West Kell from South Broadway to South College. Jerold Henson Painting was given a $13,964 bid to repaint the outside of the birthplace home of William Jennings Bryan with a specialized paint for older buildings.
Councilman Jim Koehler is hoping improvements to the Bryan Birthplace will attract more visitors. Both projects are expected to be completed this summer.
Public Works Director Annette Brushwitz says rainy weather continues to delay completion of park facility improvements tied to the state OSLAD grant. The deadline for work to be completed is April 30th.
A $173,743 bid was awarded to Howell Paving for seal coat for the summer oil and chip street improvements. A $48,553 bid was awarded to Beelman
Logistics for aggregate to be used in the project.
