DURHAM – If voters at the annual town meeting Saturday follow Budget Committee recommendations, the 2008 tax rate will go up by 2 percent, from $18.30 per $1,000 in property valuation to $18.66, according to Chairman Allan Purinton.

The committee will recommend a municipal budget of $2,024,466 to be offset by: transferring $330,269 from undesignated receipts; $44,779 from the fire and rescue capital improvement fund; $50,736 from the regular capital improvement account; $786,664 from designated funds; and revenues of $28,986. This will leave a total of $783,303, plus overlay, to be raised in local tax dollars for municipal operations. The committee anticipates a 5 percent increase in the county tax bill.

On the school side, the panel will recommend that voters spend $5,262,861 for education, which after all receipts, including state and federal allocations, will leave a total of $2,504,299 to be raised in local tax dollars for schools.

Voters will notice a change in the school articles. Due to legislative changes, the school department will give voters line-by-line copies of the proposed budget as it has in the past, but state law now requires that only 10 specific budget lines be voted on and approved, fewer than in the past. Another legislative change requires that a written referendum vote be held within 10 days after town meeting to formally adopt the school budget.

Two other school questions – contracting with Freeport for school privileges at Freeport High School for two to 10 years, and a school tuition and transportation policy, will be voted on by referendum in the municipal election on Friday, April 4.

The total net tax for municipal and schools to be raised in local tax dollars, minus receipts and transfers, will be $3,434,171, providing voters do not deviate from committee recommendations. Purinton said for the most part, the committee recommendations were the same or very close to what selectmen and school committee members had proposed.

Among the larger budgets to be considered: winter roads, $562,601; tar roads, $317,278; fire and rescue operations, $225,938; solid waste, $173,225. The committee also favors installing a new computer software package at the town office at a cost of $15,450.