MEASURE NO. 24-117

City of Salem

Ballot Title:

Explanatory Statement:

Ballot Measure 24-117 would create a “Kids and Cops Program,” and establish a monthly Support Fee to fund the program. All revenue from the Support Fee would be deposited into a separate fund which would be restricted to use in the Kids and Cops Program. These types of funds are identified as “dedicated funds” in the City’s budget.

Funds dedicated to the “Cops” portion of the program would be used for drug-related law enforcement activity, including hiring additional officers with job assignments limited to drug-related law enforcement activities and creating a coordinated effort to reduce or eliminate drug-related crime in neighborhoods through assistance to neighborhood groups and property owners for activities including crime-reporting and drug house abatement. Funds dedicated to the “Kids” portion of the program would be used for a comprehensive after school program at all middle schools within city limits. The program would include a broad range of skill-building activities, including tutoring and academic enrichment; social and recreational programming; and community service activities. The funds collected would be equally divided between the two programs. Not more than 6% of the dedicated funds may be used for administrative costs.

The Support Fee would be paid by each household and each business in Salem city limits. Businesses would be divided into different classes. The amount of the Support Fee for each classification would be:

Responsible Party Monthly Fee

Single family Households $5.00

Businesses renting duplexes and triplexes $10.00/building

Businesses rentingquadriplexes $20.00/building

Businesses renting multi-family units $25.00/building

with 5 or more units

Businesses with less than25 employees $10.00

Business with 25 or moreemployees $25.00

Households qualified for the City’s water/sewer assistance program would be exempt from paying the Support Fee. The following businesses would be exempt from paying the Support Fee: home occupations; professionally licensed persons affiliated with firms; businesses operated by persons under 18 years of age; churches and religious organizations; and non-profit corporations.

The Support Fee would be collected from households and businesses using the City’s water and sewer billing system. Water and sewer customers would have an additional line representing the Support Fee added to the customer’s total on the bill. Where more than one water meter serves a household or single business, only one Support Fee would be charged to that household or business. Where one meter serves multiple businesses, the Support Fee would be charged to each business.

If the household or business is not connected to city water or sewer service, the Support Fee would be billed separately.

The Support Fee would raise $3,600,000 annually. If revenue exceeds $3,600,000 per year after 18 months, the City Council must reduce the Support Fee rate by an equal proportion for all classes of the fee. The City Council would be prohibited from increasing the Support Fee. The Kids and Cops Measure would be in effect for five years.

If this Measure is approved by the voters, the City would begin to collect the Support Fee on July 1, 2004.

Submitted by,

Diana C. Tormey, City Recorder

City of Salem

No arguments in opposition to this measure were filed.

 

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