DURHAM – A scant 112 residents out of more than 3,000 registered voters attended the town meeting Saturday, where for the first time, only municipal spending was settled.

The school budget for the new consolidated system will be voted on in a referendum on June 2.

Voters approved spending $2.44 million, which included a $322,601 county tax bill. After transfers from various existing accounts, the amount to be raised in local taxes is $1.18 million, down by $3,200 from earlier projections.

According to Budget Committee Chairman Allan Purinton, the tax rate will increase $1 per $1,000 of valuation, from $19.22 per to $20.22 on the municipal side. A final figure will not be known until the school budget is approved in June.

Voters defeated a proposal by selectmen to appropriate $1,751 for the bridge account, which the Budget Committee opposed. However, another recommendation to spend no money on repairs to the fire station was defeated. Voters approved spending $4,500 for fire station floor repairs.

A request to add $2,000 to the revaluation account was dismissed at the selectmen’s request; they said it was not needed.

The town salaries account was approved at $183,725 which included no wage hikes.

Two big-ticket requests were approved: $604,455 for winter roads and $444,609 for town roads.

Several fire and rescue department appropriations were easily approved: $231,773 for operations; $25,000 for the capital reserve account; $25,917 for the fourth lease payment on the new tanker; $44,779 for the last loan payment on the ambulance; and $40,736 for the seventh of 14 annual loan payments for the fire station.

Voters agreed to establish a “Durham Home Heating Program” for residents who may not qualify for General Assistance. The program will be funded through public and private donations or fundraisers, as directed by the program administrator. It would not be funded by local taxes.

The interest on delinquent taxes was set at 9 percent per annum; accepted as town roads were Rangdale Road, Chickadee Lane and Whippoorwill Drive.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of the late Donald Brown who was fire chief for many years. Outgoing Road Commissioner Clifton Larrabee Sr. was given a hearty round of applause after Board of Selectmen Chairman Wesley Bennett thanked him for “19 good years” working for the town. The three and a half hour meeting was moderated by local attorney Gary Wood.