Salem, VA town hall & government
Salem spent $243.9 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $9,554 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Salem's government.
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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.
Coming up at Salem's town hall
- Oct 14Wed · 6:30 pmPlanning CommissionPlanning Commission MeetingCouncil Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Meeting page ↗
- Oct 26Mon · 6:30 pm
- Nov 9Mon · 6:30 pm
- Nov 12Thu · 6:30 pmPlanning CommissionPlanning Commission MeetingCouncil Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Meeting page ↗
- Nov 23Mon · 6:30 pm
- Dec 14Mon · 6:30 pm
Recent meetings
- Sep 28Mon · 6:30 pmCity CouncilCity Council MeetingCouncil Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 24Thu · 4:00 pmBoard of Zoning AppealsCouncil Chambers, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 21Mon · 6:00 pmCity CouncilCity Council Special MeetingCouncil Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Council Chambers, Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 18Fri · 3:00 pmCity CouncilCity Council Special MeetingCouncil Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 17Thu · 3:00 pmCity CouncilCity Council Special MeetingCouncil Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 16Wed · 6:30 pmPlanning CommissionPlanning Commission MeetingCouncil Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 14Mon · 6:30 pmCity CouncilCity Council MeetingCouncil Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
- Aug 24Mon · 6:30 pmCity CouncilCity Council MeetingCouncil Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
Official listings from Salem's agenda portal ↗, checked daily. Times are local. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check the portal before you go.
Where Salem's money goes
Salem runs its own schools, so school spending is part of its budget. Comparisons are with other Virginia cities.
Where the money comes from
- Utility sales 26%
- Property taxes 24%
- From the state 18%
- Fees & charges 11%
- Sales taxes 10%
- Interest, fines & other 7%
- Other taxes & licenses 4%
- From the federal government 1%
- From other local governments <1%
Who works for Salem
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.
Salem City Public Schools
Salem's K–12 school district. The schools are run by Salem, so this money is part of the budget above.
Where the district's money comes from Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal
- Local 40%
- State 52%
- Federal 8%
Of the $14,030 per pupil, $9,142 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.
Which schools Salem kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Salem pay
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.
Contact Salem's government
Who represents Salem
Salem is represented in Congress by Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine and Representative Ben Cline. Abigail Spanberger is governor.
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.