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Councilors urge voters to approve May 20 municipal levy, warn of library and service cuts if it fails
Summary
Multiple Salem City Councilors urged residents to vote yes on a May 20 levy, saying failure would force cuts to libraries, parks, senior services and staff positions; councilors framed the levy as funding for preventive services.
Councilors at the Salem City Council meeting on May 12 urged residents to vote in favor of a levy on the May 20 ballot, saying the measure will preserve library hours, parks, senior services and other community programs.
Councilor Chris Nordyke urged voters to act, calling the ballot measure “a do or die moment for the city of Salem,” and saying that if the levy fails the city manager’s proposed budget would lead to steep cuts. “If this levy passes, we retain funding. We keep funding our library, our parks, our senior center, and our youth sports camps at the levels we are at now,” Nordyke said. He added that, under current proposals if the levy fails, the West Salem library would close and the main library branch could be cut to about 20 hours a week.
Councilor Nishioka and Councilor Varney also made public appeals during council comment. Councilor Nishioka encouraged residents to “stay engaged as we move through the budget committee process” and to be aware of the levy on the May 20 ballot. Councilor Varney said West Salem residents were not receiving the voters' pamphlet and urged neighbors to spread the word about what is at stake, noting the levy includes a separately dedicated account for revenue from the measure.
Why it matters: Councilors framed the levy as funding for preventive services that reduce demand for reactive public safety and human services spending. Nordyke told residents the city has already made prior cuts and cost controls — citing $6 million cut the previous fiscal year and about $1.5 million more in the current year — but said further reductions would still be required without the levy.
Supporting details and context: Councilors emphasized endorsements in the voters' pamphlet, including statements from public safety unions, which they said support the levy because cuts would otherwise fall to public safety personnel. Councilors repeatedly appealed to voters to mail in ballots and noted volunteer canvassing and outreach underway.
No formal council action on the levy occurred at the meeting; the statements were made during council and city manager comment as part of regular council business. The council did not vote on any levy-specific ordinance or resolution at this meeting.
Ending: Councilors asked residents to check ballots, contact neighbors, and return ballots before the May 20 election. The chair adjourned the meeting after routine business concluded.
