Salem OKs 2010 appropriations

Staff report

SALEM

City council on Friday approved its 2010 appropriations but will continue to see if spending can be cut.

Council met to look at the city’s revenue.

The city has a projection of $4.6 million for the general fund this year, which is used to fund most city offices.

The same figure for 2009 was $5.4 million.

As a result, Mayor Jerry Wolford earlier this month cut seven full-timers and a part-timer.

That included three firefighters, three police officers, a full-time secretary for the police chief and a part-time housing inspector, and the city won’t replace two street department workers who are about to retire.

James Armeni, the city auditor, had cautioned council that the city had to approve the appropriations by midnight Wednesday or the city would be unable to spend money starting Thursday morning.