Page last updated March 31, 2023.
Welcome to the City of Salem, Missouri's Projects Page!For details and information on specific projects of the City of Salem, check out the links either on the left of this page or in the hamburger (3 stacked lines at the top of this page if on a mobile device).Details for the Additional 1% Sales Tax and the Sewer Bond are below:
Facts and information on this page are sponsored by the City of Salem, Missouri.
Sample Ballot Language may be viewed at the bottom of this page.
PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 1% SALES TAX
Click the image below to play a video about the Sales Tax
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PROPOSED SEWER BOND
Click on the below text for the full 6 slides of information about the Sewer Bond.
View the Wastewater Treatment Plant's Preliminary Plan by Clicking Here.
Why a Sewer Bond and Why Now?
- 2004 - Spring Creek was placed on EPA’s 303d list of impaired waters.
- 2010 - Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study of contaminants was completed on the stream.
- April 2022 - TMDL Study was updated and new levels for discharge to the stream were set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- The City of Salem has been working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) continually during this time to develop a reasonable and affordable solution to meet the new TMDL levels.
- Completed - Phases 1 A and B of upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.
- Submitted – Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) Plan for future upgrades to MDNR detailing a phased improvement plan to meet the new TMDLs.
- Estimated Cost of new WWTF upgrades - $9,500,000
- November 2022 – City of Salem awarded MDNR ARPA Grant for upgrades of $5,000,000 – Funds must be spent by December 31, 2026
- March 2023 – City of Salem to apply for MDNR State Revolving Fund (SRF) grant of $2,000,000
- April 2023 – Sewer Bond in the amount of $4,600,000 on ballot during municipal election. IF the Bond does not pass – the application for the MDNR SRF Grant in the previous line is void.
- Spring 2023 – Application to MO Department of Economic Development for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $750,000
- Bond financing is lower cost than traditional financing.
- IF THE BOND PASSES –$2,000,000 SRF grant is almost guaranteed
- IF THE BOND PASSES AND WE GET THE CDBG GRANT OF $750,000 –The Bond will close at about $1,800,000 instead of $4,600,000
- WITH THE IFS IN THE ABOVE LINE – $9,500,000 – 5,000,000-2,000,000-750,000 = $1,750,000. This amount to be financed through the bond funding and payback will be through increased sewer rates
- WITHOUT THE BOND, SRF GRANT AND CDBG GRANT – $9,500,000 - $5,000,000 = $4,500,000 will need to find a more traditional funding source (higher interest rate) and this amount will need to be paid back through increased sewer rates.
