Town Hall · Salem

Salem, MO town hall & government

Salem spent $11.7 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,401 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Salem's government.

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Salem's money goes

Spent
$11.7 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$2,401
typical Missouri cities: $1,159
Long-term debt
None
none outstanding at year end
Water & other utilities
$6.7 million57%
Police
$1.6 million14%
Roads & transportation
$1.2 million11%
Sewer & trash
$762,0007%
Parks & libraries
$438,0004%
Health & welfare
$301,0003%
Administration & buildings
$261,0002%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$57,000<1%
Housing & development
$1,000<1%
Other
$381,0003%

Where the money comes from

  • Utility sales 62%
  • Sales taxes 24%
  • Fees & charges 5%
  • Property taxes 4%
  • From the state 4%
  • Interest, fines & other 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%

Salem didn't report all of its 2022 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce

Who works for Salem

Full-time staff
54
13 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$44,500
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
12
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
20 full-time
Water & other utilities
12 full-time3 part
Administration & buildings
7 full-time7 part
Roads & transportation
8 full-time
Sewer & trash
4 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
2 full-time2 part
Housing & development
1 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Salem R-80 School District

Salem's K–12 school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$9,875
Missouri: $14,569
Students
1,479
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$2.5 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Missouri districts overall: 54% local, 35% state, 11% federal

  • Local 32%
  • State 45%
  • Federal 23%

Of the $9,875 per pupil, $6,238 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Salem: Dent-Phelps R-III School District ($12,938 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Salem pay

Typical tax bill
$760
a year · Missouri typical $1,948
Effective rate
0.66%
of home value · Missouri 0.85%
Typical home value
$115,000
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Salem's government

🏛️ Official websitesalemmo.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Salem →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Salem

Salem is represented in Congress by Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt and Representative Jason Smith. Mike Kehoe is governor.

All of Salem's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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