Development News for Salem, Massachusetts

City Council Discusses and Approves Budgets for Public Services, Engineering, and Capital Improvements

The City Council Committee on Administration of Finance, co-posted with the committee of the whole, met to discuss the budget for the Public Services Department and Engineering Department. Ray Jordan from DPS presented the general fund budget, highlighting support for public infrastructure, safety operations, and operational efficiencies. The budget requests an increase in personnel funding to $2,325,777, a 4.15% rise from the previous year, while maintaining flat staffing levels despite increased operational demands. The council discussed increased trash tonnage, pothole repairs, sidewalk repairs, police details, and snow and ice response. The snow and ice budget for personnel was approved at $50,000 and expenditures at an unspecified amount, bringing the department total to $458,935. The sewer enterprise budget was approved with personnel at $571,349 and expenditures at $213,264, totaling $784,613. The water enterprise budget was approved with personnel at $635,484 and expenditures at $216,691, totaling $852,175. The engineering department budget for general administration was approved with personnel at $125,157 and expenditures at $16,000. The engineering sewer enterprise budget was approved with personnel at $226,64 and expenditures at $1,111,131, totaling $1,337,195. The engineering water enterprise budget was approved with personnel at $225,310 and expenditures at $17,641, totaling $1,232,951. The engineering trash and solid waste enterprise budget was approved with personnel at $174,136 and expenditures at $5,83,644, totaling $5,257,780. The Capital Improvement Program was also discussed, totaling approximately $10.5 million.