Readfield voters on Tuesday will be choosing between incumbent Lawrence Dunn and challenger Thomas Dunham for a seat on the five-person Select Board.

Dunn has served on the public works committee and the budget committee.

Last year, Dunham led a move seeking to establish a commission to write a town charter, which is a municipality’s equivalent of a constitution. The referendum was rejected last June 387-239. Dunham ran for the Select Board in 2011 as well.

Voters will see only one candidate, Raymond Renner, listed on the ballot for one of two seats representing the town on the school committee of Regional School Unit 38, Maranacook-area schools.

John Blouin has announced he is seeking the other seat as a write-in candidate.

Statements and biographical information about each candidate are offered in this month’s Readfield Messenger found through the town’s website at readfield.govoffice.com.

Also on Tuesday, voters will be asked whether the town should budget $5,000 each year to fund Readfield Heritage Days, with the celebration to run every other year beginning in 2015. Under the proposal, taxpayers would continue to vote on the appropriation each year.

Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the second floor of the Town Office, Asa Gile Hall. The state primary election also is being held that day.

At the business portion of the Town Meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. Thursday at Readfield Elementary School, voters will see a proposed municipal budget of $2.1 million, a 25.7 percent decrease from the current budget mostly because of the $700,000 road reconstruction bond that passed last year, according to Town Manager Stefan Pakulski.

“As presented, the municipal side of it would be basically flat,” he said. “Most budget areas are holding the line.”

However, he said the school budget as approved so far, almost $3.16 million, reflects a 1.63 percent increase and would require the town to raise an additional $50,000 in taxes for the schools. The property tax rate in Readfield is $18.20 for each $1,000 of property valuation. To get another $50,000, Pakulski said, would require the rate to be about 20 cents more. The school budget is up for a referendum vote at the polls on Tuesday as well.

The total proposed budget, including the municipal and school costs, is about $5.6 million, about 10.86 percent lower less than the current budget.

The proposed Kennebec County assessment is estimated at $282,293, reflecting a 2 percent increase, according to Pakulski.

One change in the municipal side is reflected in articles dealing with the town cemeteries.

Previously the cemetery budget was presented as one article that covers mowing, plot repair and other maintenance. Town employees mow the cemeteries.

This year, the board voted to have the mowing portion presented as a separate article in the warrant.

The total amount to be spent on the cemetery work, based on the cemetery committee’s recommendation is $31,003, which is $2,080 less than the current year.

Selectmen and the budget committee both recommend using $100,000 from the town’s fund balance to reduce the tax effect on the property owners.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams