Salem County adopts bond ordinance to fund capital improvements

The Salem County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously May 20 to adopt Ordinance 2026, a bond measure to fund multiple general capital improvement projects in the county.

The ordinance, given a second reading at the meeting, proposes appropriations and bond authorizations the transcript records as $5,800,000 and $5,510,000. The board opened a public hearing on the measure, received no public comment, closed the hearing and approved the ordinance by roll call.

Why it matters: the ordinance provides borrowing authority the county will use to move ahead with capital work identified by county staff, including projects referenced in the meeting’s transportation and public works discussion. Commissioners said the measure is part of regular capital financing to keep infrastructure projects moving.

Meeting details: Deputy Director Jordan Taylor participated in the roll call; commissioners present voted in favor. No members of the public spoke during the ordinance hearing. The board followed its standard second-reading and adoption procedure; the clerk confirmed the procedural steps and the motion to adopt was seconded and passed.

Next steps: Adoption authorizes county staff to proceed with the financing steps required to issue bonds and implement the projects identified under the ordinance. The transcript did not include a project-by-project spend plan in the meeting record.