Salem mayor, law director urge opposition to state bills they say would erode local control and raise police pension costs

Mayor Dickey and the city’s law director told the Salem City Council on April 1 that several bills pending in the Ohio Legislature could harm the city’s authority and finances.

Dickey said the mayor’s delegation had met with legislators in Columbus and highlighted three bills of local concern: House Bill 104 (short‑term rental regulation), House Bill 113 (changes to Type II annexations and contiguous‑boundary requirements) and House Bill 296 (which would raise the city’s pension contribution for police officers from 19.5% of wages to 24%). She said increasing the police pension contribution would come on top of recently negotiated pay increases and could “really be disastrous for our city,” given that she said safety forces account for about 83% of the city’s budget.

Mayor Dickey: “We now contribute 19.5% of their wages toward their pensions and they want to increase that to 24%. And that would really be disastrous for our city.”

Attorney Zellers, the city law director, told council that the short‑term rental bill would erode home‑rule authority and, in his view, remove constitutional powers cities have exercised over time. Zellers urged opposition to the measures and said the bills’ provisions would limit local control.

Attorney Zellers: “That’s a direct erosion of our home rule authority… it’s actually taking away some of the constitutional power that cities have been afforded over the years.”

Council members were urged to contact their legislators to express opposition. The city did not take a formal vote or adopt a written position during the meeting. Dickey and Zellers encouraged council members to review the bills online and to raise concerns with state lawmakers.