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Salem council adopts five‑year CIP, approves bond orders and FY27 utility and trash fee ordinances
Summary
The Salem City Council adopted the 2027–2031 five‑year capital improvement plan and approved bond orders for the general fund and water/sewer CIP; the council also adopted ordinances setting FY27 water, sewer and solid‑waste fees and authorized the mayor to sign the MSBA high‑school project agreement. All votes were unanimous.
At its June 25 meeting the Salem City Council adopted several major fiscal measures: the five‑year Capital Improvement Plan for 2027–2031, second‑passage bond orders for the FY27 general fund CIP and the FY27 water & sewer CIP, and ordinances setting FY27 solid‑waste, water‑use and sewer user fees. The council also adopted mayoral communications appropriating funds for copier costs and authorized the mayor to enter a project scope and budget agreement for the Salem high school with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
Councilor Davis moved for adoption of the five‑year CIP; she reported a short committee discussion and said the committee recommended adoption. The council approved the plan by roll‑call vote (11–0). The council then adopted a second‑passage bond order for the FY27 general fund CIP in the amount of $7,862,000 and a second‑passage bond order for FY27 water and sewer CIP in the amount of $7,660,000; both were approved by unanimous roll call.
The council adopted second and final passage of an ordinance amending Chapter 36 (solid waste/trash fees) and ordinances amending Chapter 46 (water rates and sewer user charges) for fiscal year 2027. Councilor Varela moved those items and each measure carried unanimously.
Separately, the council adopted an appropriation of $6,500 from free cash to the purchasing department's fixed‑cost copier and supplies account to cover remaining FY26 payments. The meeting record contains a separate mayoral order to transfer funds into the copier account, but the transcript supplied here contains a garbled amount and does not permit a reliable reading of the transferred sum; the appropriation of $6,500 is recorded clearly in the meeting minutes.
Councilor Varela moved and the council authorized the mayor to enter into and be bound by the MSBA project scope and budget agreement for the high school project; the motion passed by roll‑call vote (11–0). Councilors noted the MSBA process constrains some future changes to the project and emphasized the city is continuing its project process.
All measures related to capital planning, bonds and fee ordinances were adopted by unanimous votes; clerks recorded roll calls for each measure and the meeting proceeded to other business.
