This year’s annual town report is dedicated to Margaret Wentworth, former selectman and tireless volunteer in community affairs. A retired teacher and librarian, she has served on boards and committees that have shaped the future of the town.
What: Durham town meeting
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Durham Elementary School
Town meeting
Tax cut on tap in Durham
DURHAM – Budget Committee Chairman Allan Purinton is predicting a quiet town meeting on Saturday.
“There’s not a lot of controversy,” he said, adding that the town is in good financial condition.
If voters follow recommendations, the tax rate will drop from $19.50 to $18 per $1,000 valuation, a reduction of more than 7 percent, Purinton says.
On the municipal side, the only difference between the selectmen’s $734,320 proposed budget and the Budget Committee’s recommendation of $731,326, is a scant $3,000. Selectmen want the $3,000 for a utility shed at the town office, while the committee feels there is space available at the nearby town-owned Eureka Community Center.
The budget proposed by the School Committee also has the full support of the budget panel with the exception of a small difference in the transportation budget. The school board is seeking approval of a $2,314,505 budget, while the committee recommends $2,313,505.
Among other issues to be decided is a town office expansion. The budget board and selectmen favor transferring $10,000 from the undesignated fund account for a town office expansion study. The town office was constructed in 1986, and since that time the town has grown considerably. Additional services and responsibilities over the years have resulted in a space crunch.
Voters will also consider: a barking dog ordinance, placed on the warrant by petition; accepting Ada Drive, Hunter Hill and Smith Farm roads as town roads; enacting three amendments to the subdivision ordinance and one amendment to the land use ordinance; and to set the rate to be charged on delinquent taxes at 11 percent per year.
Both panels also agree that a townwide property revaluation is needed, and the BC will recommend that voters set aside $67,000 this year, as proposed by selectmen, toward the cost, which is estimated at $135,000.
Subtracting anticipated revenues, taxpayers will be asked to raise $731,326 for municipal operations and $2,313,505 for schools. Added to this is a $294,678 county tax bill and $138,000 for overlay, for a grand total of $3,477,509 in local tax dollars.
Action on town meeting articles 4 through 83 gets under way at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at the elementary school gym.
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