Salem committees recommend FY2027 operating budgets for council, clerk, elections and veterans

The Salem City Committee on Administration and Finance, meeting jointly with the Committee of the Whole, reviewed proposed FY2027 operating budgets on May 21 and voted to recommend budget lines for four departments to the full council.

City Clerk Eileen Simons summarized the City Council request (page 285), noting personnel lines that include the 11 councilors and mayoral stipend allocations and a larger-than-usual minute‑taker cost. "It's runs about $18,000," Simons said of the contract minute taker Mary Beth Costella, which contributed to the personnel variance. The committee voted to recommend the Council personnel line of $196,965 and the expenditures line of $100,473, producing a department total of $297,438; the clerk recorded the committee vote as four hands in favor.

Simons then presented the City Clerk office budget (page 292). She described two non‑union and three full‑time union staff, an approved increase for an assistant, and overtime for vital records work. The committee recommended the clerk's personnel budget of $398,003 and expenditures of $13,870, for a department total of $411,873.

On elections, Simons outlined staffing and equipment needs tied to expanded early voting and upcoming state elections. She said the city plans to buy additional poll pads and that some election costs are reimbursable after the election. "We have to purchase 14 more of them at $750 each," Simons said of the poll pads, and she explained that state reimbursement comes after expenses are paid and that reimbursements go into the city's general fund. The committee recommended the Elections & Registrations personnel line of $293,483 and expenditures of $61,050 (department total $354,533).

Director of Veteran Services Kim Emerling told the committee that roughly 75% of benefit costs are reimbursed under Chapter 115 and that the department requests $400,000 in the operating line to cover benefit payments. Emerling described casework, outreach to neighborhood associations and Council on Aging events, and a dedicated driver and vehicle used to transport veterans to regional VA appointments. The committee recommended Veterans Services personnel of $170,933 and expenditures of $410,800, for a department total of $581,733.

All motions were presented as committee recommendations to be forwarded to the full council and were recorded by the clerk as carrying with four hands in favor. Committee members and department staff discussed operational details during review: increases in printing/hosting and software support for the Council, overtime and poll‑worker stipends for elections, the timing and administration of state election reimbursements, and the veterans office's space and confidentiality constraints.

The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn. Members noted that there was no in‑person public comment during the session and encouraged residents to send written comments to citycounselors@salem.com.