Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Salem

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Salem VA downtownPhoto: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Salem

How is Salem run?

Salem’s city government spent $144.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,660 per resident. Water and other utilities ($46.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Virginia.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$144.5M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$5,660
In 2022: $4,767, more than 50% of 20 similar cities
Long-term debt
$92.9M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
1,146
full-time · 302 part-time · March payroll $6.0M
Typical tax bill
$2,316
0.90% of home value · VA 0.73%

What stands out about how Salem is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own schoolsThe schools are part of the city budget, not a separate district.Runs its own water & sewer29% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Its own police and fire120 sworn officers and 89 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Salem’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 6:30 pm · Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct14
    Planning CommissionWednesday · 6:30 pm · Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad StreetPlanning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Sep28
    City CouncilMonday · 6:30 pm · Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Sep24
    Board of Zoning AppealsThursday · 4:00 pm · Council Chambers, 114 North Broad StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Sep21
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Council Chambers, Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad StreetCity Council Special MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $5,660 per resident a year, or $15.51 a day

Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 42% of day-to-day spending.

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%
Schools included

Salem runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $50.6 million; interest on debt $1.7 million; payments to other governments $277,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $243.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$4,767 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Salem’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,767 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 20 Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,720, and the middle half spent $3,881–$5,661. Salem spent more than 50% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,881–$5,661Median $4,720Salem

Includes sewer and trash ($7.9 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
20

Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Salem itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 20% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Salem reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$120.8 million
2023$133.2 million
2024$144.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $4,767 · 2023: $5,248 · 2024: $5,660.

City staff
1,146

full-time in March 2025, up from 1,100 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,316 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Virginia$2,790
Cave Spring$2,646
Salem$2,316
Roanoke$1,893
Glenvar$1,073
$2,316
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$258,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Salem’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Salem’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Salem →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Salem

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See salemva.gov for Salem’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Salem yet.salemva.gov ↗
Who works for Salem

One full-time city employee for every 22 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (25,523).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Schools579 + 196 pt
Police120 + 20 pt
Fire89 + 10 pt
Roads & transportation73 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings54 + 17 pt
Water & other utilities59 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries38 + 30 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections36 + 11 pt
Sewer & trash28
Housing & development12
Other58 + 16 pt
1,146
full-time
302
part-time
$6.0M
payroll for March 2025
$71.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$59,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
120
sworn police officers
89
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Salem had 43.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 14 of the 20 Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 36.0: Salem had more than 79% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

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.

Schools in Salem →
$14,030
per pupil · VA $17,169
4,318
students
$14.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,030 per pupil, $9,142 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 40%State 52%Federal 8%

Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Salem voted in 2024

Official results for Salem’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President13,207 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican58.8%7,769 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat39.7%5,237 votes

Others: 1.5% (201 votes).

Most votes in Salem: Donald J Trump

Salem city: Trump 58.8%, Harris 39.7% · Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%

Turnout
66%

of Salem’s 19,955 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Virginia: 71%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate13,022 votes
Hung CaoRepublican56.5%
Timothy M KaineDemocrat43.4%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Salem: Hung Cao

Salem city: Cao 56.5%, Kaine 43.4% · Virginia: Kaine 54.4%, Cao 45.4%

U.S. House · Virginia’s 6th District407,035 votes
Ben L ClineRepublican63.1%
Ken L MitchellDemocrat34.8%
Others2.1%

Most votes in the district: Ben L Cline

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Salem, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Salem58.8%39.7%1.5%13,207
Salem city58.8%39.7%1.5%13,207
Virginia46.1%51.8%2.1%4,503,288
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Salem

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Salem.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: salemva.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Virginia House of DelegatesState representatives
    Joe McNamara
  3. 3
    Virginia SenateState senator
    David Suetterlein
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Abigail Spanberger
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ben Cline
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Virginia
    Mark R. WarnerTim Kaine

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Salem compares with the towns next door

Salem spent $4,767 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $5,097. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Roanoke: $5,097 per resident (2022)Glenvar: unincorporated, no town budgetCave Spring: unincorporated, no town budgetRoanokeGlenvarCave SpringSalem
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Roanoke$5,097 runs schools$1,893
Salem$4,767$2,316

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Salem’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitesalemva.gov ↗

Questions about Salem’s government

How much does Salem spend per resident?

About $5,660 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,767 was more than 50% of 20 Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Salem?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,316 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see salemva.gov.

Who runs Salem’s government?

See salemva.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Salem yet.

How did Salem vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 58.8%, Kamala D Harris 39.7% (13,207 votes, official results). Salem city: Trump 58.8%, Harris 39.7%. Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%.

How many people work for Salem?

1,146 full-time and 302 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.0M (about $71.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Salem in the state legislature?

State Senate District 4 (David Suetterlein) and House of Delegates District 40 (Joe McNamara). The House of Delegates district also covers parts of 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Salem?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Salem’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →