In her recent State of the City speech, mayor Cathy Clark said Keizer posted a “stable but slowing” market last year, saw a slight uptick in property values and is making progress towards City Council goals.
The annual address, held during the monthly Keizer Chamber of Commerce luncheon, drew roughly 80 people to the Keizer Event Center on Tuesday, March 10. Clark has been mayor since 2015 and is in her sixth term. She provided a sweeping update on the community, heavy with numbers on everything from employment figures to city spending.
Clark highlighted the city’s accomplishments and activities, including that it is moving forward with its newly adopted Strategic Plan, halfway through biennial goals and adding to its economic base by selling city-owned properties.
She said the city “is proudly bringing Keizer know-how and grit into completing projects, tackling financial stability and strengthening community.”
Progress toward City Council Goals
Clark ticked off progress made by the Keizer City Council on its own goals for the city.
Clark noted a recent town hall gathering feedback on whether to add a pavilion to Keizer Rapids Park’s master plan and efforts toward beginning a program to fill in sidewalk gaps in town and a utility discount program for people in need. She said the city has conducted surveys and two town halls regarding possible expansion of the urban growth boundary, and is working to schedule a city council work session on the topic.
For traffic congestion, Clark highlighted the city’s project to upgrade Verda Lane, a recent $850,000 federal grant to add sidewalks to a stretch of Verda Lane and said the city applied for a grant to add left-turn signals along River Road.
Clark said the city received a Marion County grant to revise the city’s emergency operations plan.
In addition to the council goals, Clark noted the creation of a Police Fee Task Force to consider staffing at the Keizer Police Department and public safety needs in Keizer. Recently, the task force recommended increasing utility fees to help fund police, and the city council recently met in a work session to advance the idea.
She said lower inflation and “staff diligence” led to $1.2 million in savings in the city’s general fund budget. Clark’s presentation shows the city expects to spend $18 million for city operations – $1.6 million more than expected revenues. The city typically uses its reserves to cover that gap.
Clark criticized the state for diverting funding from cities, pointing to a $200,000 loss in liquor tax revenues in each of the last two years and loss of marijuana tax revenue after a 2020 state measure decriminalizing drug use.
“We already know that property taxes do not cover all the costs of operating a city,” Clark said.
Economy and Housing
Citing data from a US Census, Clark said Keizer saw “rising unemployment and consistent household income levels” in recent years.
Keizer’s unemployment rate increased by one percentage point to 5% in 2025, which is similar to the state’s unemployment rate. The poverty rate remained roughly flat at about 8%.
“We’re holding our own, and we’re going to be supporting people in our community to make sure that their needs are met,” Clark said.
She said the city would continue “reaching out to make sure that our community may remain strong for everybody, not just people in certain income brackets.”
The median household income in Keizer in 2024 was nearly $85,000, up from about $81,000 in 2023. The median area wage growth was 4.2%, with an inflation rate of about 3% in 2025.
Clark said the city has seen “cautious investment” in the retail sector coming out of the pandemic, and highlighted three city-owned Keizer Station properties that are currently being sold. She also cited the new Wilco store moving into Keizer Schoolhouse Square and other local business activity such as the opening of a second location of the restaurant Pho Keizer.
“Local businesses continue to invest in growing and staying in Keizer,” Clark said.
On housing, Clark noted there is local demand for housing meant for multigenerational or seniors living close to transportation and services, as well as middle housing such as townhomes.
Clark cited a recent economic summit presentation that said people continue to struggle with housing affordability, making middle housing “both necessity and opportunity.” She said housing costs are being driven by land, materials and labor.
She said middle housing accounted for a third of new homes in the Salem area last year.
In Keizer, Clark said the homeownership rate was approximately 63% between 2020 and 2024, which is similar to the state average. About 65% of Keizer’s housing stock was single-family homes with a median value of about $434,000.
The real market value of property in Keizer increased by 2.3% to $6.2 billion. Large projects under development including a new hotel will add to that value, Clark said.
Clark also highlighted parks projects including upgrades to turf fields in Keizer and adding a boardwalk across Claggett Creek wetlands. She also noted the city’s recent Gold Star Family Memorial Monument dedication.
NEWS TIP? Contact reporter Krista Kroiss at [email protected].
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