SALEM Council expected to pass general budget

The budget sets aside $1.3 million for capital improvements.
SALEM -- City council is expected to meet in special session tonight to adopt a 2002 general fund budget of about $4.2 million.
In 2001, about $4 million was spent from the general fund.
More money is being set aside in the 2002 general fund budget primarily to pay for increases in wages and benefits.
The 2002 budget includes a cash carry-over from 2001 of $498,000, said Auditor Jim Armeni.
The 2002 budget also calls for setting aside about $1.3 million for capital improvements, Armeni said.
That's about $500,000 less than was spent last year.
Capital improvements this year will include the city's share of a project now under way to improve East State Street in the city's commercial district.
Streets and sidewalk improvements also will be paid for through the capital improvements fund.
The fire department will get a small increase compared with what it spent in 2001. The 2002 budget allocates $931,634 for the department, which spent about $920,000 in 2001.
The police force will get about $1.4 million this year, if the budget is adopted as proposed. In 2001, the police department spent about $1.3 million.