TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Josh Eggleston, Chief Financial Officer
SUBJECT:
title
Consideration of a five-year operating levy to fund the Library, Parks, and Center 50+.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Natural Environment Stewardship; Safe and Healthy Community; Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure; Strong and Diverse Economy; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
The Salem Budget Committee approved a motion directing city staff to bring information to the City Council regarding a five-year operating levy to fund the Library, Parks, and Center 50+ for the May 2025 ballot.
end
ISSUE:
Shall the City Council direct staff to prepare a scenario for the May 2025 election to fund the Salem Public Library, Parks, and the Center 50+ with a five-year operating levy for consideration at a January City Council work session?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize staff to prepare a scenario for the May 2025 election to fund the Salem Public Library, Parks, and the Center 50+ with a five-year operating levy for consideration at a January City Council work session?
body
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Next Steps
January 21, 2025 - City Council work session to discuss levy rate and specific services to be funded. In February 2025, City Council may consider resolution referring the operating levy to the May 2025 election, and authorize funding for communications.
Levy Rate
Table 1 displays potential levy rates per thousand of assessed value (AV) and the estimated revenue for each of the next 5 fiscal years. Depending on the specific services planned to be funded with the operating levy, the levy rate selected should be able to cover the cost of the selected services throughout the term of the five-year operating levy.
Table 1
Service Costs
The below service costs (Table 2) display the forecasted services cost for FY 2026 through FY 2030. These costs consider any program revenue and represent the current general revenues that are allocated to each program. The Library includes an option for enhanced services.
Table 2
Impact to the General Fund Five-Year Forecast
The impact to the City’s General Fund Five-Year Forecast would be positive if the local option levy covers existing services. All the costs in Table 2 (excluding Library enhancements) are currently included in the forecast. With the implementation of a local option levy, those services would be funded with a local option levy instead of general revenues. A local option levy at the amounts included in Table 1 would not eliminate the entire General Fund deficit. The balance of the deficit would have to be managed with additional revenue or reductions in spending.
Election Timing - May 2025 Key Dates
February 28, 2025 - Last day for governing body to file referral text or prepared ballot title in order to complete challenge period deadline to file notice of measure election.
March 20, 2025 - Last day to file or withdraw notice of measure election and explanatory statement with the County elections official.
Election and Communication Costs
$200,000 - Estimated special election cost paid to County
$ 78,000 - Informational mailing to all residents
$ 25,000 - Communication consultant support
BACKGROUND:
In 2023, the City Council held multiple work sessions on continuing General Fund services and forming a Revenue Task Force. On January 22, 2024, Salem City Council approved the slate of 25 members and two alternates for the Revenue Task Force. The Task Force met seven times; considered feedback from eight focus groups, three town halls, and a statistically valid survey; and advanced recommendations to the City Council concerning revenue options to support City services funded by the General Fund. The Task Force recommendations to sustain vital City services were presented at the City Council Work Session on, July 15, 2024. A local option levy was one of the Task Force Recommendations.
Local Option Levy (Operating Levy)
A local option levy, also called an operating levy, is a special type of property tax that local governments in Oregon, like cities, counties, or school districts, can ask voters to approve. The levy is only temporary, usually lasting up to five years, and people vote on it to decide if they want to add it to their property taxes.
Property Tax Compression
In Oregon, Measure 5 and Measure 50 are laws that limit how much property tax people can be charged. These rules can create a problem called compression, which happens when those limits are reached.
Here’s how it works:
• Measure 5 caps property taxes in two categories: one for schools and another for local services like police, fire, and libraries.
• Measure 50 controls how a property's taxable value grows, usually slower than its real market value.
When local governments ask voters to approve extra taxes, like local option levies for things like parks or schools, these taxes are added on top of what’s already being charged. If the total taxes go over the Measure 5 limit, the government must reduce-or "compress"-the amount collected, starting with optional taxes like local option levies.
This means even if voters approve a local option levy, not all the money may be collected, which can cause funding shortfalls for important community services.
Attachments:
1. None.