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Salem council approves 2027 tax budget

SALEM — City council approved the proposed 2027 city tax budget in its meeting Tuesday. City Auditor Sal Salvino and City Councilman Jim Harrington both stressed that the annual tax budget was “more of a compliance document than a planning document,” and that the projections therein lean toward a worst-case scenario by design. Harrington, who chairs the city’s finance committee, said that as a result the city’s actual financial conditions are “less grim” than the tax budget would suggest and that “you would likely come to incorrect conclusions if you used it to inform ...

Salem school board approves 5-year forecast

SALEM — The Salem school board approved a revised five-year forecast in a June 29 special meeting. Typically, Ohio school districts present and approve a five-year forecast twice each year. However, in the wake of major changes to public school funding in the state, Treasurer Mike Douglas presented the board with a revised forecast projecting a mixed financial future for the district. The forecast projects annual increases to the district’s end of year cash balance for the three years with a projected final balance for fiscal year 2026 of $9,677,528, an approximately 17% ...

CNBC: Ohio works for No. 1 rating

Why yes, Ohio wants your business, and a global business and financial news outlet is exclaiming the wonders of the Buckeye State’s business-friendly landscape. CNBC announced on its broadcast Thursday that Ohio is America’s Top State for Business in 2026.The network cited the state’s business costs, infrastructure, market access, electrical power capacity and inventory of shovel-ready sites in making its decision. Ohio’s housing costs also are among the most affordable nationwide, CNBC reported. “When I took office, I promised to ‘plant the seeds’ of long-term ...

Goshen Township trustees award Diagonal Road paving project bid

GOSHEN TOWNSHIP — Township trustees have awarded the bid for the their Ohio Public Works Commission project. Goshen Township received a total of seven bids for this year’s OPWC project, which will pave the section of Diagonal Road between Duck Creek and Middletown roads. In a special meeting Monday, trustees selected the bid from North Lima-based contractor R T Vernal Paving & Excavating for $164,975.50. R T Vernal was the lowest bidder. The other bids received including $205,796 from Phillips Paving, $192,999 from the Shelly Company, $190,039 from Barbicas Construction ...

Salem marks 250th anniversary of Declaration of Independence

Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by Bruce Williams, offered a special public reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Salem Public Library Wednesday, marking the 250th anniversary of its first public readings on July 8, 1776. As he reached the Declaration’s conclusion church bells were ...

Salem council to seek parks levy renewal in November

SALEM — City council took the first step in presenting Salem voters with the question of renewing the Salem Parks Department’s 1-mill recreational levy in its meeting Tuesday. Council approved two resolutions declaring it necessary to present the renewal to voters in Columbiana and Mahoning counties in the upcoming general election on Nov. 3. Council will still need to approve another resolution to actually place the renewal on the ballot in an upcoming meeting. Last approved by voters in 2022, the recreational levy has a period of five years and if renewed by voters would begin ...