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SALEM -- Salem voters renewed the parks department's 1.3-mill recreational levy during Tuesday's General Election.
"We're lucky to operate in Salem where we have a community that supports us. Other places don't have the same kinds of amenities we do, so being able to keep those things available is important to us," Parks Director Kelli Pastore said.
According to final but unofficial results, the renewal passed by a vote of 2,291 (59.38%) for and 1,567 (40.62%) against.
The recreational levy was last renewed by voters in 2022 and has a period of five years. If renewed by voters in November, that term would begin with tax year 2027 to be collected in 2028. The levy is estimated to generate $235,982 for the department annually. As a renewal of an existing tax will not cost residents any more than they're already paying.
"We want to thank everybody who voted for the levy. It's critical for our operating budget. Without those funds we would have had to cut things like our sports leagues, the [Centennial Park] swimming pool, bathrooms being available and even our large events like the Trail of Treats, the Easter egg hunt, the July 3rd events, and the Go Wild in the Parks Program," Pastore said.
The recreational levy is one of two which wholly fund the parks department, which does not receive direct funding from the city's general fund as a semi-autonomous entity. The other levy is a 1-mill operational one last renewed by voters in May 2025, which generates approximately $224,000 for the department annually.