Salem finance board hears proposals

The Salem Board of Finance began discussing appropriations for the town’s 2016-17 budget at its meeting Thursday night.

The board heard and unanimously approved proposals from eight departments, including the registrar, the Recreation Commission and the Salem Volunteer Fire Company.

Changes to the capital expenditures for the 2016-17 fiscal year and the 10-Year Capital Plan were voted on at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Chairman T.J. Butcher said the board aimed to keep capital plans to $1 million each year, and the 10-year plan has become a working document that the board has control over rather than being a wish list for departments.

Republican Registrar of Voters Georgia Pech told the board that most of the increases for the registrar and elections budget came from recent legislation that requires certification and additional education for registrars.

The department will also have to purchase additional registration materials for Election Day, as this will be the first time Election Day registration has been conducted on a presidential election year. Several depart- ments are also splitting the cost of a new blueprints printer in Town Hall.

The Recreation Commission proposed a flat budget for the fifth year in a row, and both the fire company proposed a budget with a 1.8 percent decrease from last year.

Additional meetings will be held Feb. 25, March 10 and March 17.

If proposals are rejected, departments have until March 24 to make changes and submit a revised proposal to allow the board to finalize the budget for the April 13 public hearing.