Salem adopts new budgets

Four days before the beginning of a new year, the small Oconee town of Salem has new budgets.  They were approved during a meeting last night at Town Hall and followed a public hearing that attracted no one from the general public.  Neither Salem’s new general budget, nor its water budget, contains any tax or rate increase.  That’s even though the general budget is projected to be about $225 thousand dollars higher.  Kim Alexander, clerk-treasurer, gave two reasons for the general budget increase.  The numbers reflect an anticipated grant which is used to buy a small vehicle that will serve as an additional fire fighting truck.  Alexander said the budget also contains higher numbers reflecting the town’s new obligation to insure and maintain the building and grounds of the former middle and high school.  Salem’s new general budget is projected at nearly $775 thousand dollars, while the water budget is projected at a little more than $1 million dollars.