Salem, Oregon
From Ballotpedia
| Salem, Oregon | |
| |
| General information | |
Mayor of Salem
Julie Hoy | |
| Last mayoral election: | 2024 |
| Next mayoral election: | 2026 |
| Last city council election: | 2024 |
| Next city council election: | 2025 |
| City council seats: | 9[1] |
| City website | |
| Composition data (2019) | |
| Population: | 169,259 |
| Race: | White 81.5% African American 1.4% Asian 2.6% Native American 1.2% Pacific Islander 1.5% Two or more 6.4% |
| Ethnicity: | Hispanic 23.3% |
| Median household income: | $55,920 |
| High school graduation rate: | 87.4% |
| College graduation rate: | 28.4% |
| Related Salem offices | |
| Oregon Congressional Delegation Oregon State Legislature Oregon state executive offices |
Salem is a city in Marion County, Oregon. The city's population was 175,535 as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Click on the links below to learn more about the city's...
- Mayor
- City council
- Other elected officials
- Elections
- Census information
- Budget
- Contact information
- Ballot measures
City government
- See also: Council-manager government
The city government of Salem utilizes a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council, which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body, appoints a chief administrative officer called a city manager.[2]
Mayor
The mayor is a member of the city council. They appoint members of committees, boards, and commissions. The mayor also represents the city on the state, national, and international levels.[2]
The current Mayor of Salem is Julie Hoy (nonpartisan). Hoy assumed office in 2025.
City manager
The city manager serves as the city's chief administrative officer. Appointed by the city council, the city manager's responsibilities include overseeing the city's day-to-day operations, drafting and proposing the city budget, and carrying out council policies.[2][3]
City council
The Salem City Council is the city's primary legislative body. It is responsible for approving and adopting the city budget, making city policy, and voting on ordinances and resolutions.[2]
The city council consists of nine members, including the mayor. Eight members are elected by ward and the mayor is elected at large.[4]
Other elected officials
Ballotpedia does not cover any additional city officials in Salem, Oregon.
Mayoral partisanship
- See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2025)
Ballotpedia has not yet identified the partisan affiliation of Salem's mayor. As of February 2025, the mayors of 35 state capitals are affiliated with the Democratic Party, seven are Republicans, one is independent, and two are nonpartisan. The partisan affiliation of five state capital mayors is unknown. While most mayoral elections in state capital cities are nonpartisan, most officeholders are affiliated with a political party.
Elections
2025
- See also: City elections in Salem, Oregon (2025)
The city of Salem, Oregon, is holding a special election for city council on May 20, 2025. The filing deadline for this election is March 11, 2025.
2024
The city of Salem, Oregon, held general elections for mayor and city council on November 5, 2024. A primary was scheduled for May 21, 2024. The filing deadline for this election was March 12, 2024.
2022
The city of Salem, Oregon, held general elections for mayor and city council on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. The filing deadline for this election was March 8, 2022.
Census information
The table below shows demographic information about the city.
| Demographic Data for Salem | |
|---|---|
| Salem | |
| Population | 175,535 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 48 |
| Race and ethnicity** | |
| White | 69.8% |
| Black/African American | 1.6% |
| Asian | 3.5% |
| Native American | 1.2% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.3% |
| Two or more | 14.1% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 23.4% |
| Education | |
| High school graduation rate | 88.7% |
| College graduation rate | 31.4% |
| Income | |
| Median household income | $71,900 |
| Persons below poverty level | 14.7% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023). | |
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
Budget
The city's budget process operates by fiscal years running from July 1 through June 30. The responsibility for drafting a budget falls to the city manager, who then proposes the budget to the mayor and city council. The council must then approve or amend the budget. The council also holds hearings to allow for public input in the budget process.[5]
Fiscally standardized cities data
The fiscally standardized cities (FiSC) data below was compiled by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to make municipal budgets comparable across cities in the United States.[6]
| “ |
FiSCs are constructed by adding revenues and expenditures of each central city municipal government to a portion of the revenues and expenditures of overlying governments, including counties, independent school districts, and special districts. The allocations to FiSCs are estimates of the revenues collected from and services provided to central city residents and businesses by these overlying independent governments. Thus FiSCs provides a full picture of revenues raised from city residents and businesses and spending on their behalf, whether done by the city government or a separate overlying government.[7] |
” |
| —Lincoln Institute of Land Policy[8] |
The tables below show estimated finances within city limits. As such, the revenue and expenses listed may differ from the actual city budget.
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Historical total revenue and expenditure
To see the historical total revenue or expenditures as a rounded amount in this city, hover over the bars.[6]
Contact information
Mayor's office
555 Liberty St SE
Room 220
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-6255
City Manager's office
555 Liberty St SE
Room 220
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-6255
Click here for city council contact information.
Ballot measures
- See also: Marion County, Oregon ballot measures
The city of Salem is in Marion County. A list of ballot measures in Marion County is available here.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The mayor is included in this number as one of the city council members.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 City of Salem, "City Charter," accessed October 8, 2021
- ↑ City of Salem, "City Manager," accessed October 8, 2021
- ↑ City of Salem, "City Council & Mayor," accessed October 8, 2021
- ↑ City of Salem, "Fiscal Year 2024 Adopted Budget," accessed August 23, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, "Fiscally Standardized Cities database," accessed August 23, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, "Fiscally Standardized Cities," accessed August 23, 2023
