Local News – Wednesday, January 4th, 2023

The City of Salem Finance Committee met Tuesday evening at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Finance Director Stacey Houston presented a financial overview for July thru November 2022. Sales tax revenue is up over 8% when compared to December 2021. Income totaled $1,224,000 and expenses totaled $1,285,000 in the General Fund. The Special Steet Fund had income of $104,000 and expenses of $21,600; Park and Recreation had income of $285,000 and expenses of $262,000; the Capital Improvement half cents sales tax income was $324,000 and expenses were $269,000; Cemetery income was $15,800 and expenses were $58,000; the airport fund income was $2,039 with expenses of $1,030; electric fund revenue was $3 million with expenses of $2.8 million; Water fund revenue was $435,000 and expenses were $411,000; Sewer income was $398,000 with expenses of $505,000, this included a large COP payment for the Phase 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades. It was noted that an estimated $330,000 will be transferred into the Electric Fund Reserve from the $10 per month user fee that is currently being charged to customers. Finance Chairman Kala Sisco reported that she did not have good attendance by the members of the Community Service Committee, the committee that was tasked to discuss the Fourth of July Fireworks Display. With the recent budget cuts, staff reduction and no raises for city staff, the committee discussed ways to raise the projected $18,000 to have this year’s display without using city funds. After much discussion the committee voted to recommend to the Alderman that this year’s display be cancelled with the hopes of working with other groups in the community to conduct fundraisers throughout 2023 to have the display in 2024. Alderman Sisco asks anyone that wishes to help with the fundraisers to e-mail her at ksisco@salemmo.com. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack presented a proposal to increase the current 1% sales tax to 2% to support the City’s General Revenue Fund. Included in this category are Police, Administration and Public Works, Animal Control, Cemetery and Economic Development. The current 1% sales tax brings in $1,252,600 in revenue each year and with an 1% this amount will double. The current projection for this fund’s ending balance for this fiscal year is a negative $491,509. With this proposed additional 1% sales tax the city could end the year with an ending balance of $761,091. This would also decrease the transfer from the electric fund to the general fund that is needed each year to balance the budget. It would allow the electric fund revenues to be transferred to the electric fund reserves that are dangerously low at this time. The committee voted to recommend that the Aldermen pass an ordinance calling for the issue to be placed on the ballot for the April municipal election. A public hearing will be held prior to the January 10th Alderman meeting. City Administrator Sally Burbridge discussed the need for a bond to be placed on the April ballot to fund the mandated Phase Two Sewer Upgrades. The cost of the upgrades are $9.5 million, the City has been awarded a $5 million grant and if the bond issue is passed by the voters, another $2 million could be available from the State Revolving Fund and another $750,000 from a CDBG grant to bring the total that the city would need to pay at $1,762,000 with a 20 year bond. The committee recommended that the Aldermen place this on the April municipal ballot. The meeting was then adjourned.

The AARP is in need of volunteer Tax Counselors to prepare simple taxes for local, low income and elderly residents. You will be supplied with training and a computer to use during the season. After training, you will be certified by the IRS to prepare taxes. The AARP Volunteer Tax Counselors work at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory only on Fridays for 10 weeks. You will be able to prepare and e-file taxes for friends and family at no cost. Contact Ty Richards if interested, 573-453-4995 or trcheyenne@gmail.com.

The Salem Park and Recreation Board will be meeting at 5:30 tonight at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. At the meeting, the board is expected to elect officials and then hear the report from the Park and Recreation Director. After discussing the budget, the board will go into closed session to discuss real estate before the meeting will be adjourned. The meeting of the Park and Recreation Board is open to the public.