Salem approves $80,000 intra-budget transfer to support electric department

The Salem City Council voted unanimously Monday to transfer $80,000 from the city’s line replacement fund to operating accounts for the electric department to cover immediate needs after accelerated pole-replacement work.

Public works director Steve Payne told the council the reallocation will fund $49,500 for equipment maintenance, $10,000 for tools, $5,500 for special services (contractor digger-truck assistance on complex pole jobs), $2,500 for safety gear and $12,500 for wearing apparel. "We've taken on our new electric superintendent who has been vigorously replacing poles across town," Payne said, adding that crews have replaced more than 30 poles since the superintendent began work.

Alderman McKenzie moved to approve the transfer; the motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous voice vote. Council members asked whether the change increased the overall budget; the clerk and a council member clarified the action was a transfer within the existing budget rather than an appropriation increase.

The move aims to ensure crews have safety-rated, fire-retardant material and the contractor support needed to complete particularly complicated pole replacements. City staff said the department plans to include higher baseline funding for pole replacement in the next regular budget to account for ongoing needs.