Salem mayor reveals improvement plans
The mayor plans to spend more money to improve storm drains that often flood.
SALEM — Mayor Jerry Wolford on Tuesday unveiled his plans to council to use an estimated $3.6 million to improve the infrastructure of the city.
Council voted last week to put a half-percent income tax on the November ballot that would raise that amount over four years.
Wolford’s plan called for six projects starting in 2010, including four to correct storm-water problems.
The plan calls for dredging Buttermilk Run and Stonemill Run and repairing storm drains on Lexington Avenue. The fourth project would prepare the design and engineering of an unnamed inner city storm water project.
Each of the remaining years would have at least one unnamed inner-city storm-water project.
Salem has been plagued by flooding from heavy storms in recent years.
The projects, Wolford said, “may also be funded by grants. That’s only speculation.”
The proposed spending does not cover any capital purchases for the city, such as equipment, and no hiring, the mayor added.
The city already collects a 1-percent income tax that normally brings in $8 million a year. Wolford said he lowered his estimate of that tax and the proposed half-percent collection because of the poor economy.
The amounts available for projects may depend on how council members divide the revenue if the tax is approved, Wolford said.
Council now spends 85 percent of its revenue on general expenses and only 15 percent on capital improvements. Council can adopt any percentages it wants.
Council did pass legislation to have the city’s full 2010 appropriations set before Jan. 1. Finance committee Chairman Bret Apple wants the work done by then to give council a clear financial picture. In the past, the city has adopted only a temporary budget for the first three months of the year by Jan. 1.
As usual, council voted not to meet in August.
Councilman Dave Nestic suggested that council members pay a part of their Public Employees Retirement System contributions. Nestic, council members Rita O’Leary, Mary Ann Durzacky and Apple approved the measure.
wilkinson@vindy.com