All localities in Virginia feature governments with 3 branches & elected offices. The legislative branch is the city council for cities, the town council for towns, the board of supervisors for counties. City and town councils include a mayor who presides over meetings. Mayors get their position by either being elected by voters or being chosen by fellow council members. Counties have a chairperson who serves a similar role as a mayor on their boards of supervisors. The city council/town council/county board of supervisors passes ordinances, or local laws, and adopt budgets.

The legislative branch in all three localities hire a manager for cities or towns, or an administrator for counties, to head the executive branch. The city manager/town manager/county administrator oversees the day to day operations of the locality.

Localities use the state judicial system, which includes the General District, Juvenile/Domestic Relations, Circuit & Small Claims courts for cities & counties. Towns use county courts, as they do not have their own (for example, Vinton uses Roanoke County courts).

Virginia's constitution and laws passed by the General Assembly create all local governments & tell them what powers local governments have. Local governments only have the powers that are granted to them by the state, and they can only do what the state says they can do. If there is a doubt, local governments do not have the power. Local governments must petition the General Assembly to make laws in order to be given powers- the General Assembly usually says no.

The General Assembly establishes (creates) localities by granting a charter, which is a plan of government, such as which structure and powers the local government will have. The state government does assist localities by helping them attract businesses and contribute funding for projects related to those businesses.

The General Assembly has allowed local governments to provide a number of service. Local governments are allowed to enforce state & local laws, provide free public schools (build/maintain schools, hire teachers), provide public safety (police & fire protection, emergency medical services (EMS) and ambulances), provide public health services and environmental protection (health clinics, water treatment, sewer, garbage collection), regulate land use (zoning laws or what can be built where- residential, business, manufacturing, downtown, etc.), provide mass transit (buses, subways, trolleys), and provide public utilities (streets and electricity).

To carry out these services, the state allows local governments to collect taxes. Local governments cannot tax income, but can tax items such as property, food, tobacco, and hotels.

Local government affects us more directly than at the state & national level. For instance, local government can determine what can be built in the area where you live, shop, eat, or go to school; require leash laws for walking dogs; decide whether or not your neighbor can raise chickens and how many chickens they can raise; decide how late you can play music outdoors, set a limit on how high the fence can be around your home, and require a certain number of parking spaces and require landscaping at your favorite restaurant or store.

Local legislators come from the community- they may be neighbors, co-workers, friends, or even family. City and town councils or county boards of supervisors create local laws and often seek input from the community in making those laws at public hearings and meetings. If citizens are not satisfied about the policy direction of their locality, they can run for local office & influence policy themselves.

Salem was chartered as a town in 1802. It was and still is the county seat (where the courthouse is) of Roanoke County. In 1968, Salem became a city, and in 1983 established their own school system.

In Salem, five city council members are elected at-large, which means that there are no districts and all council members represent the entire city- some localities’ councils or boards of supervisors are broken up by geographic districts, from each of which select a representative. These five council members (Bill Jones, Renee Turk, Jim Wallace, John Saunders, and Randy Foley) serve as the city's legislative branch. The mayor (Turk) is appointed by the city council to serve as the ceremonial head of the council. Roles of the mayor include representing the city, presiding over council meetings, and casting the final vote in any action that council takes.

Salem's city council appoints a city manager (Jay Taliaferro), who acts as the chief executive and runs the day to day operations of the city. Only the city manager, his/her assistant, and the city attorney work for city council; all other city employees work for the city manager.

In addition to city council, Salem also elects constitutional officers such as the sheriff (April Staton), who enforces laws & provides security at the courthouse; the commissioner of revenue (Kristie Chittum), who assess local taxes; the commonwealth’s attorney (Tom Bowers), who prosecutes (brings legal action) in criminal cases; the treasurer (Danielle Crawford), who collects local taxes & makes payments; and the clerk of circuit court (Chance Crawford), who keeps records of legal documents at the courthouse.

Salem’s school board is appointed by city council (some localities elect the school board), who oversees the public schools, sets policy, and appoints a superintendent, who hires all of us to teach you.

Salem has a 1-year budget cycle, which totaled $75 Million in 2020. The city manager develops the budget, which must be approved by city council.

Salem’s 2 biggest sources of revenue are real estate taxes (land, buildings, houses, etc.) and personal property taxes (boats, cars, motorcycles, etc.). Salem also brings in revenue from other taxes and fees, such as business licenses, lodging, food, garbage totes, and electricity.

The city spends the most on education and public safety, or police, fire, and emergency medical services.