×

Salem City Council to begin budget review for next year; add expenditures to this year’s budget

By Bruce Kropp Mar 20, 2023 | 10:51 AM

The Salem City Council Monday night will begin the budget review process for the fiscal year beginning May 1st.   The council will review the General Fund items, with the rest of the budget to be reviewed at the April 3rd meeting.

City Manager Rex Barbee says the city is expecting revenues from the current fiscal year to exceed projections by $125,000 and is seeking permission to move forward with some expenditures prior to April 30th.   They include multiple improvements at the city’s maintenance building including an upgrade of the electrical system.   A security camera is being sought for the Main and Broadway intersection to review traffic issues with semi-trailers colliding with the traffic signals.  Barbee wants to spend $3,500 to replace the diving board at the Salem Aquatic Center.  East Lawn Cemetery improvements would include a concrete pad, carport, additional ground protection mats, an air compressor, and a laptop computer.

The council will be asked to approve several bids.   One is to authorize emergency repairs and replacement of 550 feet of a damaged section of the septic sewer system in East Lawn Cemetery that has already been completed at a cost of $13,500 by JK Trotter and Sons.  The council will be asked to approve a bid from Henson Painting to paint portions of the Aquatics Center pool, including racing lines in the deep end, at a cost of $21,546.   Multiple bids will be considered for the summer road maintenance program.

The council is being asked to spend up to $20,000 to replace failed concrete panels on the North Selmaville Road.  XPO Logistics is having work done to their entrance ramp in the same area and the contractor is willing to stabilize the ground and pour the new concrete panels on North Selmaville Road.

The meeting gets underway at six Monday night at Salem City Hall.