Salem lawmakers propose temporary ‘capital service’ funding to cover city’s public‑safety costs for state properties

House lawmakers representing Salem and civic leaders told the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans on May 8 that the state should compensate the City of Salem for public‑safety services it provides to state‑owned buildings and land in the city.

"This bill is a straightforward concept to address a fundamental problem faced by the city of Salem," State Representative Tom Anderson said, introducing the proposal that supporters described as House Bill 2531. Anderson told lawmakers state properties make up about 8% of Salem’s taxable value and that a fair lost‑revenue calculation for services the city now provides is "approximately $7,000,000 per year."

The proposal discussed in the informational hearing would create a Salem capital service district or a short‑term funding mechanism to offset uncompensated police, fire, emergency medical and other public‑safety services the city provides to state facilities, including the State Capitol, the penitentiary and the state hospital. "The state needs to do more to help our capital city," State Representative Kevin Mannix said during testimony, urging the…