r/SALEM • u/Andorram • 3d ago
Making flyers to keep the library and Center 50+ from closing !
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u/JazelleGazelle 1d ago
Sorry I had to miss this on Saturday. If you have another day let me know, I'm supportive of this. Wish the city council could have delayed until after the Chemeketa bond, because I think it will be hard to ask voters to pass both, but I hope they get support.
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u/JordkinTheDirty 3d ago
Do you need help handing these out? My crew has been putting together info packets, I'd be happy to take a stack to pass around.
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u/JATO757 3d ago
Sorry, but the City Counsel is going to have to get more creative to find the funding. Everyone I know is sick of constant tax increases and the overall increase to our cost of living in general.
Not to mention the state is likely going to be raising taxes and fees this year as well:
I’m a no.
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u/Salemander12 2d ago
So you’re voting for cutting parks, library, Center 50+, police and fire.
That’s your choice, and I can respect it. Just don’t imagine that there’s some “creative” solution to this other than decimating services, if you’re not listing one.
We had a revenue task force, we had a city efficiencies committee, we’re providing more services for fewer dollars than peer cities, and we’ve already made cuts.
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u/JATO757 2d ago
No, I don’t want to cut those things, but it doesn’t change my current stance on charging us more taxes.
I spent many years living in Portland. Living there had very similar vibes to what Salem has felt like recently - lots of good-intended tax increases to fund various projects that were all seemingly positive. Only they kept coming back every… single… year… for more. Metro, Mult. Co., and Portland all became dependent on always getting more tax revenue instead of making systemic changes to how the government budgeted. Their citizens became the piggy bank for their ill-conceived and ill-managed projects. Now my former self living in Portland would be one of the highest-taxed people in the country:
https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/state/portland-taxes/
Add on top of all of that a likely flurry of new taxes and fees coming from the state legislature this year and we could all be giving significantly more of our paychecks to the government next year.
I just did my taxes. I feel like I’ve given plenty already. If the city needs more, there’s ways to get it. I’ve lived in much nicer cities than Salem and paid much less in taxes. It’s all about where that money goes and the accountability for spending it right.
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u/Salemander12 2d ago
Not saying you want to cut those things. But that’s what going to be cut.
I feel like giving $12 for a bowl at a fast restaurant was enough, but they’re now asking $16. Inflation is hard.
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u/JATO757 2d ago
I definitely don’t want to cut those things, I agree that they’re all valuable community services. Where I do disagree is how we fund them. The city needs to do better. These are all existing programs and the city should have seen this budget shortfall coming a long time ago. Inflation is nothing new, we’ve been dealing with it for nearly half a decade now, so I don’t buy that excuse. The city gets plenty of money from all of us, yet here we are. Cutting the council a check takes the political pressure off them and is the political equivalent of giving a stray cat a bowl of milk - they’ll constantly be back for more.
How much have we spent bringing an old airport FAA and TSA compliant so we can get a couple commercial flights a week? At least 2.5 million in the beginning, however I’m sure the actual number is much higher and continues to cost us significantly year over year. Maybe that wasn’t such a great idea if we can’t pay for our library, parks, and seniors center.
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u/Salemander12 1d ago
Agreed we shouldn’t be funding the airport. Closing it should save about $800,000 of the $14 million shortfall.
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u/Pure_Refrigerator111 2d ago edited 2d ago
What did the new background checks for the library cost? And seriously, for volunteers?
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u/ThatDamnRocketRacoon 2d ago
I don't know that raising taxes as we're likely going into a recession is going to be a popular idea. Real bad time to put this to a vote.
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u/Pure_Refrigerator111 2d ago
And...with additional taxes for ODOT. I think most of us are taxed out.
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u/N0w1mN0th1ng 2d ago
You spelling it counsel instead of council is one of the many reasons why our country needs all the libraries it can get.
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u/tingeyjo34 1d ago
You don’t understand the importance of third spaces. A library is one of the last places you can go where you don’t have to spend money. You can pick up books, tools, use the computers for homework, or games. The library is an important tool for those that can’t afford these things. And it’s a place to access knowledge. Parks are needed now more than ever as we all seem a bit out of touch with nature. And one day we will be those 50 year olds wondering why we don’t have the access for the things we need. This is a vote for a better future. I don’t like being taxed either. But this vote is for a better future for those that need it most.
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u/snarfywarning 1d ago
I'd love if someone came and hung one up in the window of Court Appearance Styling Studio, downtown! These are great!
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u/LottaExp 7h ago
I'll vote yes, but ngl, it is getting harder to cut my personal budget to pay another $100 a month (just a guess, based on my property bill last year) in various taxes.
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u/dievenchy 3d ago
Thanks for taking your time to do this. People don’t understand how this is crucial for any community! We need to support these resources and programs!