The City of Salem Finance Committee met Aug. 4 and voted unopposed to recommend three separate fee changes. If passed by the City of Salem Board of Aldermen these changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.
• raise business license fees to $35—they were previously $25,
• stop monthly yard waste pickup and switch to a $40 per load flat fee upon call,
The rest of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a number of other items including:
• A use tax for internet sales that has come up in discussion at various other city committee meetings as well as during open sessions of the Board of Aldermen.
Bolerjack, who was present Thursday, mentioned that one possible application would be to help pay for law enforcement. The committee opted to table discussion of the use tax until after hearing back regarding a grant related to sewer plant upgrades. Bolerjack stated that he expects the city to hear sometime in October.
• Committee member Richard LaBrash resigned from the committee.
• Finance Director Stacey Houston gave a brief report regarding city finances as listed in packets distributed at the meeting. Houston stated that auditor Kristen DeLuca will be presenting the FY 2020-21 audit at the Board of Aldermen meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 9).
• Committee member Kevin James asked that a breakdown of money spent at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory be presented to the Finance Committee at the next meeting.
The next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 13.
