SALEM — Salem City Council adopted an $824.6 million FY2027 budget Monday night, locking in the city’s spending plan for police, fire, library service, parks, recreation, senior programs and other core operations before the new fiscal year begins July 1.
The budget passed 6-0 among voting members. Councilor Mai Vang was absent. Councilors Linda Nishioka and Vanessa Nordyke recused themselves from the vote because of conflicts of interest.
The final vote turns months of budget work into the legal spending authority Salem will use for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It also sets the baseline for some of the most visible services residents rely on, from emergency response to library access and park maintenance.
The adopted budget includes $197.7 million in General Fund spending. Within that fund, the Salem Police Department is budgeted at $74.3 million, while the Salem Fire Department is budgeted at $58.9 million.
The plan also includes levy-supported funding for several community services that have been central to Salem’s recent budget debate. The Salem Public Library is budgeted at $6.7 million, parks operations at $11 million, Center 50+ at $2.3 million and recreation services at $1.9 million.
Council adopted the budget with little discussion Monday night. Councilor Deanna Gwyn moved to approve Resolution No. 2026-31, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2027 City of Salem budget. Councilor Shane Matthews seconded the motion.
“I do want to thank city staff for all the hard work that was put into creating our budget for this year,” Gwyn said before the vote.
Councilor Paul Tigan also thanked staff and members of the city’s Budget Committee for their work “putting together this document and sending it to the council for approval.”
The final adopted budget is higher than the $816.1 million proposed budget released earlier this spring. The final staff report placed total expenditures at $824.6 million after amendments, rebudgeted purchase orders, carryover appropriations and other adjustments.
City Manager Krishna Namburi described the proposed budget earlier this year as “meaningful progress in stabilizing our financial position and addressing structural challenges,” saying it reflected work by the community, council and city staff to keep Salem safe, vibrant and livable.
A major piece of that stability comes from Salem’s voter-approved 2025 Livability Levy, which is helping fund library, parks, recreation and Center 50+ services. The levy provided Salem with a dedicated funding source for several services that had faced uncertainty during recent budget cycles.
The adopted budget does not end Salem’s broader financial debate. City leaders have continued to face pressure from rising costs, limited revenue options and growing demand for services. But Monday’s vote determines what city departments can spend in the coming year and gives residents a clearer picture of which services will continue under the city’s next operating plan.
Council also adopted the FY2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan on Monday night. Nishioka and Nordyke recused themselves from that vote as well, and the plan passed 6-0 among voting members.
For residents, the impact of the budget will show up in practical ways: police and fire staffing and response capacity, library operations, recreation programming, senior services, park maintenance and the everyday city functions that keep Salem running.
The budget takes effect July 1.
Sources: City of Salem FY2027 budget adoption packet; Resolution No. 2026-31; City of Salem FY2027 final budget expenditure appropriations; City of Salem Annual Budget page; June 22, 2026 Salem City Council meeting transcript and notes.
