Keizer budget committee advances managerrecommended spending plan and approves multiple fund budgets

The Keizer Budget Committee on May 20 approved the city managerrecommended budget framework and voted to adopt multiple individual fund budgets, including the Administrative Services Fund and the Street Fund, after brief discussion and a single procedural amendment.

The committee, meeting as the citybudget committee, elected Jonathan Thompson as chair and Kyle Duran as vice chair for the 2025-26 budget cycle, accepted the proposed budget calendar and approved minutes from the February 2024 meeting. City staff presented highlights of the managerrecommended budget, including continued emphasis on paying down the cityPERS liability, funding capital needs and maintaining core services while awaiting several grant outcomes.

The manager, Adam Brown, and budget officer Tim Wood walked committee members through revenue assumptions, spending drivers and capital priorities. Wood said the budget incorporates a proposed set of fee adjustments (stormwater, parks, and a modest water rate increase) that the city council will ultimately consider. Brown emphasized that paying down the PERS unfunded actuarial liability and selling or repurposing city-owned properties were central to the long-term strategy.

Committee members debated one amendment to add a City of Keizer membership in the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for $3,000. That amendment was tabled for later consideration and did not block the overall approval of the Administrative Services Fund. The committee approved the Administrative Services Fund after tabling the Salem Chamber item; it then approved the Street Fund (with an amendment removing a duplicate parade-related line item) and subsequently approved the Street Lighting District, Transportation Improvement, Sewer, Sewer Reserve, and Park Improvement funds. Several other public-works and utility funds were presented for review; the committee deferred final action on some utility projects pending a summary of total customer impacts.

Committee discussion touched repeatedly on the trade-offs of raising user fees versus postponing capital work. Several members asked for a consolidated summary showing the combined effect of all proposed fee increases on a single-family residential bimonthly utility bill; staff agreed to provide that breakdown at the start of the committeesession the following evening.

The meeting also included public testimony and budget presentations from community groups that requested city funding (see separate articles). Brown closed by thanking volunteers and staff and asking the committee to reserve additional questions and votes for the remaining sessions.

Votes at a glance

- Elected Jonathan Thompson, chair (nominated by Mayor Clark; nominated and seconded; motion approved by voice vote). - Elected Kyle Duran, vice chair (nominated by Mayor Clark; motion approved by voice vote). - Approved 2025-26 budget calendar (motion moved by councilor Anderson; seconded by councilor Kohler; approved by voice vote). - Approved minutes of Feb. 2024 budget committee meeting (moved by councilor Duran; seconded by Mayor Clark; approved by voice vote). - Approved Administrative Services Fund (motion moved by councilor Duran; seconded by councilor Kohler). An amendment to add a $3,000 Salem Chamber membership was tabled for later consideration. - Approved Street Fund with an amendment removing a duplicate $2,000 parade traffic control line item (motion moved; amendment accepted; motion carried by voice vote). - Approved Street Lighting District Fund (voice vote). - Approved Transportation Improvement Fund (voice vote). - Approved Sewer Fund and Sewer Reserve Fund (voice votes). - Approved Park Improvement Fund, including allocation toward Keizer Rapids Park projects and a state grant for the Gold Star Family Memorial (voice vote).

What happened next

Committee members adjourned for the evening and reconvened the following day for remaining budget deliberations and formal decisions on user fee recommendations and remaining funds.