Salem Can Save City Funds by Exploring Alternatives

(SALEM, Ore.) - Nobody doubts that we are in a dire economic meltdown, which translates into much less revenue obtained to run government. At the grassroots level, our city of Salem is very much affected. We definitely must think "outside the box".

I've canvassed opinions on the subject from the public. Some intriguing ideas have sprouted and may possibly bear fruit. Perhaps you have others to share.

* NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS: They can supply volunteers to take on small-scale community projects, within their neighborhoods. Having each neighborhood association president meet with Salem's community services department can lead to deciding on priority projects.

* HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY SERVICE: Why not tap into youthful energy and build skills in needed areas? Two fix-it projects that come to mind are the repainting of the Ike Box near the YMCA and some retouching out at our Riverfront Park waterfront; the railings are badly blighted. Some gardening in our various parks could also spruce up the environment.

* CONTRACTING WITH AMERICORPS: Here we find enthusiastic young folks who are looking to "make a difference". At the same time, our practical budget austeritity sends the message: do more with less. In those agencies where personnel cutbacks pose significant service reductions, perhaps even one Americorps volunteer on a year-long contract could fill that gap.

* TRAFFIC VIOLATION PENALTIES: One wonders if the income gleaned from fines minus traffic court hearings and police testimony time truly helps any city break even. Consider the possibility of assigning able-bodied drivers who get a citation to help repaint faded lane signs and repair broken curbs in a way to save money for the city. The law would need changes to allow that flexibility so that civil servants do not feel bypassed but supplemented.

* TAX REDUCTION BONUS: Maybe our city can operate a citizen suggestion program that would reward money-saving proposals by any individual with an equitable reduction is property tax payments. If that person is a renter, then a panel could grant a partial rent rebate using the same guidelines.

Which of these proposals would get your vote if we had a citywide referendum? Please provide your opinion to: council@cityofsalem.net. The Mayor and our City Council are trying hard during difficult times. Hearing directly from you can become your most important contribution of the year. Go for it!

Salem-News.com Community Writer Barry Lee Coyne brings to our readers stories from his combined career of journalism and gerontology, and explains that these paths shaped his values. This writer-therapist often views the world as the masks of comedy and tragedy placed upon the scales of justice. For him, optimism inevitably wins. "Lyrical Lee" has traveled to 30 nations aboard and was once a press intern at the UN. His first published article was in The NY Daily News in '59, dealing with the need for integrity in public office.

He also launched the nation's first tele-conference on health education for shut-ins, created the Eldermentors project in VA to pair retirees with immigrant students needing role models, and was the main catalyst behind CCTV's "Public Public" panel show here in Salem. Lee received his BA in International Relations and an MSW in community organization. He currently serves as a member of Salem's Library Advisory Board. To send Lee an email, please write to this address: luckycoyne@yahoo.com

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Scott May 20, 2009 10:04 am (Pacific time)

My neighborhood operates a fairly successful association, there's a voluntary park cleanup event coming up at the end of May. It's a great idea, and I commend the volunteers who are donating their time to coordinate activities. I had an interesting discussion with a foreign exchange student recently who said public service is a stipulation of receiving unemployment benefits in her country... Good article.

gp May 19, 2009 8:16 am (Pacific time)

We live in a poor town in a poor province in a poor country. Recently our neighborhood gathered donations of 10 pesos per household in our barrio, the women painted the cypres that the donations purchased and it paid for the professional sign painter who did a beautiful job of painting the signs in a uniform manner, the donors of the paint get a little freebee add on the top of the signs but this is normal here in Argentine Patagonia. The men errected the signs on consecutive Saturdays and my part was to plant flowers at the base of the beautiful street signs. I am sure this would never fly in a Salem but the idea is that we can take care of our own communities and the rewards of working together in this way are continuously and cummulatively benificial to us all. (tim will send a photo via email)

Just a thought May 18, 2009 11:27 pm (Pacific time)

I am on unemployment and terribly bored, maybe you can put a flyer at the employment department asking for volunteers, if I knew where help was needed I would be there.

Snarfy May 18, 2009 10:33 am (Pacific time)

I will also email this to you, but maybe comments will get discussion going! Along the same vein as the highschool community service, maybe getting the low-threat prisoners from the local prisons to help build parks out of recycled materials... The park on Brown Street has had the "Coming Soon to your neighborhood: A Park!" sign for 10 years.. .even some nice shade trees and old tractor tires to play in and around would be more fun than just a place where people take their dogs to poop. The McKay park could use some help too! They took out the huge bridge, and now there is just a huge dirt pile. They don't even have real swings, just the ones for babies and toddlers.

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