Town Hall · Salem

Salem, NJ town hall & government

Salem spent $6.9 million in the year to December 31, 2023, about $1,306 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Salem

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Salem's money goes

Spent
$6.9 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2023
Per resident
$1,306
typical New Jersey cities: $2,790
Long-term debt
$8.2 million
$1,540 per resident
Water & other utilities
$2.1 million31%
Police
$1.9 million28%
Administration & buildings
$606,0009%
Roads & transportation
$387,0006%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$281,0004%
Sewer & trash
$184,0003%
Housing & development
$105,0002%
Interest on debt
$63,0001%
Parks & libraries
$57,0001%
Health & welfare
$24,000<1%
Fire
$22,000<1%
Other
$1.1 million16%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 50%
  • Utility sales 24%
  • From the state 21%
  • Interest, fines & other 4%
  • Fees & charges 1%
  • Sales taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%

Salem didn't report all of its 2023 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce

Who works for Salem

Full-time staff
48
31 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$57,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
18
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
19 full-time13 part
Administration & buildings
8 full-time12 part
Roads & transportation
9 full-time
Housing & development
4 full-time
Sewer & trash
3 full-time
Water & other utilities
3 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
2 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
0 full-time3 part
Fire
0 full-time2 part

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 City School District

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

Spending per pupil
$28,822
New Jersey: $28,441
Students
1,277
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$2.6 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from New Jersey districts overall: 48% local, 46% state, 6% federal

  • Local 11%
  • State 69%
  • Federal 20%

Of the $28,822 per pupil, $15,165 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.

Property tax

What homeowners in Salem pay

Typical tax bill
$3,648
a year · New Jersey typical $9,590
Effective rate
4.57%
of home value · New Jersey 2.11%
Typical home value
$79,800
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 websitecityofsalemnj.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Salem →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Salem

Salem is represented in Congress by Senators Cory A. Booker and Andy Kim and Representative Jefferson Van Drew. Mikie Sherrill 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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Salem

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