EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was revised on 12/8/25 at 1:40 p.m. to show a revised date for the city council meeting, due to weather.
On Thursday evening, the Salem City Council will hold its regular meeting, consider the adoption of its legislative agenda and receive a breakdown of the city’s votes cast in the Nov. 4 election.
Each fall, the city shares with its state representatives guidelines as to what kinds of legislation the city would benefit from in the upcoming General Assembly session.
Here are some of the priorities on this year’s list:
- Support amendments to the Code of Virginia so that notices of real property tax increases are inflation-neutral.
- Support runway safety improvements and expansions at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport and increase funding to the Commonwealth Aviation Fund to support improvements at Virginia commercial airports.
- Oppose mandated collective bargaining for local public employees.
- Enhance the ability of local school divisions to serve children with disabilities, and continue investment of state resources to assist in local administration of Children’s Service Act programs.
- Use available funds to continue the expansion and operation of Catawba Hospital.
Salem’s list also asks for consideration of legislative priorities from the Virginia Municipal League’s 2026 Legislative Program, including assistance to local police departments, support for public education, stormwater local assistance funding and a study of mandatory property tax exemptions.
Roanoke, whose council adopted its own legislative agenda last week, also identified support for an expansion at the airport as one of its top priorities.
A breakdown of the city’s votes cast in the General Election
The council will also receive the abstract of votes cast in the Nov. 4 election from the Electoral Board. This abstract shows that in Salem, more than 4,000 votes were cast for Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger, and more than 5,000 votes were cast for Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate.
In the race for attorney general, Republican Jason Miyares won 2,000 more votes in Salem than Democrat Jay Jones, who won the election.
Thursday’s meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., following a 5:30 p.m. work session. Council meetings are held in City Hall, at 114 N. Broad St. in Salem. Those who wish to read the full agenda for Thursday’s meeting can find it here.
