Salem Implements Payroll Tax for Emergency Services Funding

The city council of Salem, Oregon has passed a Safe Salem Payroll Tax, which would impose a tax of around $42 per month on all wages for individuals working in Salem, regardless of where they live. The tax aims to generate about $28 million each year to help pay for emergency services and address the city's $19 million budget shortfall. Minimum wage employees would be exempt from the tax. The decision has faced opposition, with many arguing that the tax is unethical, regressive, and unaffordable for many.