City Council Advances $447 Million High School Bond for May Vote
Salem City Council adopts $447 million high school bond with May vote set. The City Council voted 10-0-1 to approve the $447,385,518 bond order for construction at 77 Willson Street, with Councillor Andrew W. Varela absent. Council President Alice Rose Merkl presided, and Councillor Kyle Alexander
City Council · Meeting of January 22, 2026
Salem City Council adopts $447 million high school bond with May vote set. The City Council voted 10-0-1 to approve the $447,385,518 bond order for construction at 77 Willson Street, with Councillor Andrew W. Varela absent.
Council President Alice Rose Merkl presided, and Councillor Kyle Alexander Davis noted the committee's support for the project. The council also approved a $29,540 appropriation for poll workers and scheduled the voter referendum for May 5, 2026, justified by the fact that rejecting the bond would require expensive code renovations to the current high school to maintain accreditation.
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Source: the City Council meeting of January 22, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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