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Varney says $300 million bond, $3 million savings will fund playgrounds, sidewalks, parts of two fire stations
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Summary
In a League of Women Voters interview, Councilor Mickey Varney said the city is in phase two of a three-phase 2022 infrastructure bond (described as $300 million) and reported an additional $3,000,000 in bond savings; he also discussed pressures on the general fund and the use of levies.
Councilor Mickey Varney said Salem is in the second phase of the 2022 infrastructure bond and described the measure as a three-phase, $300,000,000 program that funds streets, sidewalks, parks and portions of civic facilities.
“...this next phase is the second of 3 phases of the $300,000,000 bond,” Varney said, and added that the city recently secured financing that produced an additional bond savings of about $3,000,000.
Varney named specific near-term projects funded by the bond, including replacement playground equipment at the riverfront park and portions of funding for two future fire stations — one planned for the northeast and one for the southeast of the city. He said the bond steering committee uses a criteria system to prioritize which projects are completed first.
On city finances more broadly, Varney said Salem’s general fund relies heavily on property taxes and that public institutions — state buildings, county properties, nonprofits and churches — do not pay property tax, shifting a larger burden to taxable properties. He cited the limits imposed by measures 5 and 45, which he said cap annual property tax growth at roughly 3 percent and have contributed to a funding imbalance that required levies such as the recent parks and libraries levy.
Varney also discussed the airport’s finances in response to a question about guaranteeing passenger air service. He said subsidizing passenger service with general fund dollars had not worked well previously but defended continued investment in the airport for emergency management and general aviation, noting FAA and state grants help offset costs.
The remarks were made during a candidate forum produced by Capital Community Media and the League of Women Voters.
