This article is Part 4 of a six-part Town Hall Times series breaking down the warrant articles appearing on the March 10, 2026, ballot. In this installment, we provide an overview of the 2026 Road Construction & Engineering Program and two collective bargaining agreements for voter consideration.

Article 09: 2026 Road Construction and Engineering Program  
Article 9 asks voters to consider raising and appropriating $3,000,000 to be added to the Roadway Capital Reserve Fund, originally established in 1990. The funding would be used for the repair and reconstruction of existing roads, associated drainage improvements, right-of-way work as necessary, and related engineering and design.

This article continues the Town’s Annual Road Program, which focuses on improving overall road conditions throughout Salem. Roadway priorities are generally determined using pavement condition index (PCI) ratings, traffic volumes, and opportunities to coordinate construction with other municipal projects. The majority of the funding would support construction work, while a portion would be allocated toward engineering design for additional primary roadways A full list of roads proposed for work under this program is available in the 2026 Town Meeting Voters Guide. Residents may view the guide using the link provided at the end of this article.

Recommendations:

• Town Council: With
• Budget Committee: With

Article 10: Salem Police Employees Association (SPEA) Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 10 asks voters to consider approving the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Town Council and the members of the Salem Police Employees Association (SPEA). The proposed agreement reflects the following estimated changes to salaries and benefits at the current staffing level:

• 2026: $247,906 (placement in new wage schedule effective April 1, 2026)
• 2027: $287,103 (3.0% salary adjustment effective April 1, 2027)
• 2028: $295,713 (3.0% salary adjustment effective April 1, 2028)
• 2029: $304,587 (3.0% salary adjustment effective April 1, 2029)

The article further asks voters to raise and appropriate $247,906, representing the anticipated increase in salaries and benefits for 2026 under the new agreement compared to what would be paid under the current agreement at current staffing levels. This article requires a majority vote.

This is a four-year contract covering 69 full-time members of the bargaining unit. If approved, the Town’s 2026 Operating Budget would increase by $247,906. Appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 would be reflected in the Town’s operating and default budgets for those respective years.

Originator: Town Council
Funding Source: Property Tax
Estimated Rate Impact: $0.04

Recommendations:

• Town Council: With
• Budget Committee: With

Article 11: Salem Public Administrators Association (SPAA) Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 11 asks voters to consider approving the items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Town Council and the members of the Salem Public Administrators Association (SPAA). The proposed agreement reflects the following estimated changes to salaries and benefits at the current staffing level, with $6,925 to come from the Water Fund and $5,548 from the Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) revolving fund:

2026: $141,582 (placement in new wage schedule effective April 1, 2026, and step                       increases for some members effective October 1, 2026)
2027: $131,533 (3.0% salary adjustment effective April 1, 2027)
2028: $135,331 (3.0% salary adjustment effective April 1, 2028)

The article further asks voters to raise and appropriate $141,582, representing the anticipated increase in salaries and benefits for 2026 under the new agreement compared to what would be paid under the current agreement at current staffing levels. This article requires a majority vote. This is a three-year contract covering 25 full-time and one part-time member of the bargaining unit. If approved, the Town’s 2026 Operating Budget would increase by $141,582. Appropriations for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 would be reflected in the Town’s operating and default budgets for those respective years.

Originator: Town Council
Funding Source: Property Tax, Water Fund, and Cable Access Special Revenue Fund
Rate Impact: $0.02

Recommendations:

• Town Council: With
• Budget Committee: With

We encourage residents to take a moment to review Articles 9–11 in the full Voter’s Guide before heading to the polls. Residents seeking additional election information, including polling locations and hours, are encouraged to visit the Town’s Election Information page.

Part 5 of 6 will review Warrant Articles 12, 13, and 14, including the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund, the Town Facility Maintenance & Improvement Capital Reserve Fund, and the Anniversary Celebration Trust, all appearing on the March 10 ballot.