DURHAM – A scant 119 voters had checked in when Moderator Gary Wood called the annual town meeting to order Saturday morning. Late arrivals brought the count up to a high of 142 and some left before the meeting concluded at 2 p.m.

The total gross appropriation for town and school operations approved by voters was $7,539,769.

After the meeting, Budget Committee Chairman Allan Purinton estimated the combined total to be raised in local tax dollars for town and schools, after all revenues, will be $3,258,000, plus the county tax bill and overlay. Based on these figures, Purinton estimates taxpayers can expect a 1.2 percent hike in their tax bills this year, going from $18.31 per $1,000 valuation to $18.51. His figures are based on an estimated taxable property valuation of $184 million.

With the exception of a proposed 3 percent wage increases in salaries and wages for elected/appointed officials and employees, which was approved 70-43, residents followed Budget Committee recommendations closely.

Broken down, voters authorized spending $5,515,303 for schools, which after all federal, state and other revenues, leaves $2,478,000 to be raised in local tax dollars for education. For town operations, voters approved spending $2,024,466, minus revenues, leaving $780,000 to be raised locally.

It was voted 65-13 by secret ballot to raise and appropriate $353,726 in additional local school funds, which exceeds the state essential programs and services model by $237,545.

Rejected by a wide margin was an article that would have changed the positions of tax collector and treasurer from elected to appointed, as was a request to reduce the size of the Budget Committee from nine to five members. Indefinitely postponed was the acceptance of Sand Hill Drive as a town road.