SALEM Council OKs plan to add revenue to general fund

City council will be asked to approve borrowing money to help pay for sewer projects.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The city is increasing the amount of income tax revenue that it puts into its general fund to provide more cash for operating expenses.
City council gave final approval Tuesday for a measure that increases to 75 percent the share of the 1-percent income tax that goes into the general fund. The remaining 25 percent will go into the capital improvements fund.
Previously, the general fund received 65 percent of the tax revenue and capital improvements got 35 percent.
The change in the funding split will add about $400,000 to the general fund, if income tax revenue in 2002 is $3.7 million, as expected.
Reason for increase: Council increased the general fund's share to make up for losses caused by a drop in income tax revenue over the past year or so.
Council will be asked in coming weeks to approve the utility commission's borrowing about $2.3 million to pay for sewer projects and improvements to the sewer treatment plant, said utilities Superintendent Don Weingart.
The money would pay for a $1.4 million project to install sewers on the city's northeast side, a $315,000 upgrade to the treatment plant, construction of a $550,000 sewage pumping station and a $51,000 sewer replacement project on Aetna Street.
Railroad crossings: Councilman Steven Andres, D-2nd, suggested that the city consider taking legal action to force railroads operating in the city to improve several railroad street crossings.
"The railroad tracks in town are terrible," Andres said. "We need to do something about it."
Crossings that are particularly poor are those at South Lincoln and Newgarden avenues, Andres said.
Water issue: Councilman Walt Bezeredi, D-4th, said the parks commission is considering steps to improve the quality of water in the duck pond at Waterworth Memorial Park.
Bezeredi's comments came in response to comments by Mason Dow, a pupil at Southeast Elementary School.
Mason visited council Wednesday and asked for something to be done to aid the animals.
"This will be getting taken care of," said Bezeredi, chairman of council's parks committee.
Bezeredi noted that parks officials are aware of the problem. They are considering pumping fresh water into the duck pond to improve the quality.
Bezeredi said he knows of no ducks having died as a result of the poor water. But he added that parks officials realize the water must be improved.