SALEM — Salem Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Hoffert asked Salem City Council Monday night to commit, for the next year, to not raising taxes or fees on small businesses, arguing that Oregon’s slower-growth economy leaves local employers with less room to absorb added costs and uncertainty.
Hoffert delivered the request during the council’s special orders of business, addressing Mayor Julie Hoy, councilors, City Manager Krishna Namburi and city staff. He framed “small business” as central to Salem’s stability and future growth:
“Small business in our community is our community’s economic engine. It provides fuel to power our hopes, dreams, and the collective economic and social health of this place we all call home.”
Citing small business data for Oregon, Hoffert said more than 99% of businesses in the state qualify as small businesses and employ the majority of workers. He told councilors Salem is not in a crisis, but said the environment has shifted and the city has choices to make before market stress deepens. “I want to be clear from the outset: we are not here because Salem is in crisis. We’re here because the economic environment has changed, and the decisions we make now will shape whether we stay on solid footing,” he said.
Hoffert argued Oregon has moved past an era when growth felt inevitable. Population growth is slowing, birth rates are down, and the population is aging, he said, meaning future growth depends more on attracting and retaining people. When growth slows, he added, the impacts are immediate: a smaller workforce makes hiring tougher, local spending weakens, and public services become harder to fund when costs rise faster than the underlying tax base.
Small businesses, Hoffert said, tend to feel policy “friction” first — whether that comes from new taxes, new fees, or slow permitting — because they operate on thinner margins than large corporations. He warned that stacked costs and delays can push businesses to close or relocate, shrinking the tax base and creating pressure for additional revenue measures.
He urged the council to focus on three priorities: “do no harm” by avoiding new costs that could later require rollback; make city government work better by improving permitting timelines, clarity and predictability; and keep Salem “safe, clean, and welcoming” for commerce. “Customers always have a choice, and if shopping locally feels uncomfortable or unsafe, the alternative is just one click away,” Hoffert said.
Hoffert also reiterated a chamber request related to downtown paid parking, asking the city to stop charging the Downtown Parking Assessment on businesses following the implementation of paid parking and to reimburse payments dating back to when meters were installed. He said he was encouraged to hear from Namburi that staff were preparing a proposal to bring to council later this month.
The centerpiece of Hoffert’s remarks was a specific, time-limited request. “As a practical expression of your commitment to do no harm, we’re asking council to make a clear commitment that now is not the time to raise any taxes or fees on Salem’s small business community,” he said, describing stability as economic support in a slow-growth environment.
Earlier the same day, Hoffert asked a related question during the chamber’s mayoral candidates debate: whether the candidates would support imposing any new taxes in the next 18 months. Both candidates answered “no,” a point Hoffert connected to his call for restraint and predictability.
Council Q&A: workforce development, permitting delays, safety, and chamber support
After the speech, Hoy asked if Hoffert would take questions. Councilors followed with questions ranging from youth workforce development to permitting and public safety.
Councilor Vanessa Nordyke asked how the city and business community can work together to prepare the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs. Hoffert said the chamber invests in leadership and workforce development through its foundation, including a youth leadership program that runs alongside Leadership Salem, and a partnership with CTEC designed to connect industry and students. He said whether the city should take a direct role in workforce development is a broader policy question for council, but argued that reducing burdens on small businesses can free up resources employers can invest in workers.
Council President Linda Nishioka asked what “reducing barriers to expansion” means in practice. Hoffert pointed to delays and back-and-forth in permitting and approvals, saying slow timelines can drive up costs and keep businesses closed longer while projects wait for clearance. He referenced the former JCPenney property as an example where he said city processes affected redevelopment plans.
Nishioka also asked whether the chamber can help businesses that are struggling. Hoffert said yes, describing a network of past chamber presidents who help mentor owners, as well as partnerships that connect businesses to technical assistance and training. He added that businesses don’t always disclose when they’re nearing closure, which can leave the community surprised when a storefront shuts down.
Councilor Irvin Brown asked where Hoffert hears the most consistent complaints about city government. Hoffert said two issues come up repeatedly: permitting and sign codes. Brown raised safety concerns some businesses report outside their storefronts and asked about barriers to engaging with the chamber when owners are overwhelmed. Hoffert responded that businesses do not need to be members to access chamber help and resources, and said much of the chamber’s programming is publicly available.
Councilor Paul Tigan asked whether Salem is seeing business migration from the Portland metro area. Hoffert said he is aware of some interest and some relocations, though he said businesses are often cautious about publicizing moves. He added the chamber is not actively recruiting businesses out of the metro market.
Hoy closed by thanking Hoffert and attendees and moved the meeting to the next agenda item.