Salem voters won’t pay more in property taxes to avoid deep cuts to the city’s library, parks or emergency services.That’s according to a new poll commissioned by the city of Salem, which targeted over 400 potential voters, asking how they’d feel about two potential property tax increases. It was conducted by DHM Research over the phone and online between Sept. 10 and 16.  The poll found at this point in time Salem voters would likely reject either of two levy options: a “livability levy” focusing on libraries, Center 50+ and parks, or a public safety levy funding police, fire and emergency response.  The poll aimed to gauge voter support, and see if there was a preference between the two options.Many of the voters opposed to the levy options said they couldn’t afford new taxes. “The only thing that I was surprised by was the magnitude,” City Manager Keith Stahley told Salem Reporter. “Nearly 40% of the respondents said they were certain they would vote no. That’s a high number.”  READ IT: City of Salem Levy Poll Council to discuss poll results Salem City Council will hold a work session Monday focused on the results of the city-commissioned polling which showed a lack of enthusiasm among residents for increased property taxes to help pay for city services. The council won’t vote on anything, but will discuss next steps. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, and will be both in-person at the council chambers, 555 Liberty St. S.E., and available to watch online. To comment remotely, sign up on the city website between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube in English and Spanish. For written comments, email [email protected] before 5 p.m. on Monday, or submit on paper to the city recorder’s office at the Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. S.E., Room 225. Include a statement indicating the comment is for the public record. The levy options were a top suggestion from the city’s revenue task force, which convened in June after five months of discussions focusing on ways to boost city revenue and prevent cuts to city services.  City councilors indicated they were considering putting a levy to raise property taxes on the May 2025 ballot. The polling suggests they’ll again be forced to contemplate deep cuts to Salem services during the 2025 budget cycle.Community polling was step one of four of the Salem City Council’s work plan following the revenue task force findings. The remaining steps include internal auditing, validating their five-year financial forecast and more in-depth community engagement, according to a staff report from City Manager Keith Stahley. The city faces a multi-million dollar budget deficit in the coming years. Stahley and councilors have been discussing making deep cuts to services for over a year if no new revenue comes in.  A majority of councilors and Stahley point to property tax limits Oregon voters passed in the 1990s, which cap how much taxes can grow each year. The result is that the cost of city services has been outpacing tax revenue growth, contributing to budget deficits in cities and school districts across Oregon. Property taxes pay for most general city operations, including the police and fire departments, parks and the library.  Earlier this summer, the city council passed a budget which pulled city funding from sheltering sites, reduced hours at Center 50+ and moved temporary funding to prevent layoffs at the library for another year. In February, the council voted to cut vacant positions at the city.In future years, City Manager Keith Stahley has indicated that without new revenue, cuts would likely include closing a fire station, the West Salem branch of the library, and Center 50+, as well as reducing park and police staffing. The poll found that, though the majority of voters reject all levy options, they’d slightly prefer a public safety levy which would maintain existing police and fire services and add new positions.In both cases, the levy options gained support after voters learned more about them. After learning about costs and purpose of the options, 40% of respondents said they’d support the public safety measure, and 36% said they’d support the livability levy. When asked to choose between the two, 44% said they’d support the public safety levy, compared to 22% who said they’d support the “livability” option funding libraries and community services. About 21% said neither, and 12% said they didn’t know. Each levy, according to the poll, would tax property owners $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. That cost would be about $351 per year for a home with an assessed value of $234,000, according to the poll.  Public safety levy The public safety levy would retain 27 firefighters and add 18 more, enough to staff two new fire stations slated to be built using bond dollars, according to the poll.It would also retain 18 police officers, retain the graffiti and crime reporting staff and add 18 new officers. When learning about what the levy would fund, the majority of poll respondents, 53%, opposed it. Top reasons cited were that they believe the government mismanaged funds, that property taxes are already too high and that they don’t want any new taxes.Those who supported the levy option said they wanted to improve public safety and Salem, ensure that core services were provided and supported more policing. Many pointed to violent crime and drugs. Livability levy The proposed livability levy would expand library hours to seven days a week at the main branch and five at the West Salem branch, maintain Center 50+ services and hours and keep parks maintained, according to the poll.After learning about what the levy would pay for, 56% of respondents said they wouldn’t vote for it. Most said that property taxes were already too high, that they wanted to redirect existing funds and that they opposed any new taxes.Those that supported the levy said that the library is essential for education and literacy, that they want parks clean and safe and that they are needed core services. When asked to choose, 46% of respondents said park maintenance and recreation activities were the most important outcome. Other budget options Stahley said what comes next will be determined by the city council after councilors meet to discuss the matter at the upcoming work session on Oct. 21. The path forward will be informed by the survey results, he said.  “What it would take obviously is a lot more work with the community to inform them and understand what their priorities are and see if we can find a path forward,” Stahley said. “That is a lot of work. Frankly, May is not that far from now. We have a council that is going to have three new members starting in January. We will have a vacant council (seat) in January. So there is a lot of change and flux in our system. Not to mention, we have a presidential election in between all of that.”  Other top options suggested by the revenue task force included a personal income tax that would apply to people who file their income taxes within the city of Salem, not including workers living outside Salem. The committee encouraged the council to put such a new tax before voters.That recommendation was tied to a longer-term goal for the city to revise its tax structure, including its operation fee assessed on utility bills, and make it more progressive.The task force also suggested using business license fees, increasing franchise fees, and reforming the city’s process for urban renewal districts. The latter option would send more money to the city for general expenses, diverting money that otherwise would be spent on economic projects in the districts. Stahley said the city could decide to pursue another levy in the future given the limited funding options in Oregon that are accessible to local governments. One other option he brought up was a possible income tax, which was suggested by the city’s revenue task force last summer.  Stahley said presenting an income tax to voters would be difficult given last year’s payroll tax failure. He said while a payroll tax and an income tax are two completely different things, it would be a “serious undertaking” to educate the public on the matter.  Gov. Tina Kotek said Tuesday that she had not seen the poll results, but remained supportive of an annual state payment to Salem to compensate the city for some of the extra costs associated with being the state capital.  A bill proposed by Rep. Tom Andersen, which would have given the city an annual state payment of $5 to $6 million, died in committee during the 2024 session. Andersen has pledged to renew the effort if he’s re-elected, with bipartisan support from other Salem-area legislators. “We’ve got to come back with that conversation,” Kotek said. While the payment wouldn’t solve the city’s entire budget issue, “I do think we have an obligation to say, ‘Hey, there’s something we need to contribute.’” Rachel Alexander contributed reporting.Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE – If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post In poll, Salem residents say they won’t pay more property taxes for public safety, library or parks appeared first on Salem Reporter.