SALEM, Ore. — The Salem Area Mass Transit District (Cherriots) has decided to delay a vote on its proposed employer-paid payroll tax, opting instead to form a joint committee with local business leaders to develop a new funding framework for public transit. The decision, made during the board’s October 15 work session, marks a shift from immediate legislative action to a longer-term, collaborative process aimed at reaching consensus by mid-2026.
The proposed 0.7% payroll tax, originally slated for board consideration on October 23, was expected to generate roughly $39 million annually to fund expanded bus service, longer operating hours, and improved weekend routes beginning in 2027. But pushback from a coalition of six local business and real estate organizations — led by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce — prompted the board to reconsider its timeline.
“We heard our community loud and clear,” said Maria Hinojos Pressey, chair of the Cherriots Board of Directors. “It’s important for us to hear what employers are thinking and what they would like us to consider, while also balancing the needs of having a strong transit system.”…