Salem School Board backs $1.03 million restoration, pledges tax increase cap of 3.75%

The Salem School Board voted unanimously Jan. 28 to endorse a motion to propose a restoration amendment at deliberative session that would return $1,028,205 to the district’s FY2026 budget and constrain the final tax‑rate increase to no more than 3.75%.

The restoration, moved by Attorney Bernard Campbell, board member and secretary, and seconded by Pamela Berry, would restore $794,754 in personnel costs (24 vacant positions the board described as “critical student service positions”) and roughly $233,451 for capital and supplies including intercom upgrades and selected maintenance projects. “I will make a motion that the school board endorse a restoration amendment, at deliberative session to restore to the budget $1,028,205 and that as part of that, we commit to be able to bring a final tax rate increase of no greater than 3.75%,” Campbell said before the vote.

Why it matters: Board members framed the restoration as an effort to reverse cuts the municipal budget…