SALEM — Three of the town's bridges are in such a decrepit state, selectmen say they will propose paying for replacement bridges through the 2009 budget if voters turn down a $1.8 million bond in March.

Selectmen will ask voters to approve a $1.8 million bond when they go to the polls. That bond would fund the replacement of bridges on Lawrence Road and Cluff Crossing. Salem would pay off the bond in 20 years and may be eligible for an 80 percent reimbursement from the state.

Replacement of the Pelham Road bridge would come through a $450,000 warrant article. That would be a one-time expense to be voted on during the second deliberative session later in March.

If voters reject the $1.8 million bond at the polls, selectmen say they will amend the Pelham Road article and include the two other bridges.

The bond vote requires a 66 percent majority for approval. The warrant article, however, only requires a simple majority. If voters reject the bond and selectmen amend the Pelham Road article to include the other two bridges, that, too, would simply require a majority vote for approval.

But selectmen are hoping it doesn't come to that. If it does, that would ruin their level-funded, $39 million budget for 2009.

"After the Budget Committee and selectmen worked together, we're down to a zero percent impact on the tax rate," selectmen Chairwoman Elizabeth Roth said. "What we're trying to do in these difficult economic times is to ask the voters where they want their money to go."

If it does come to that and voters approve an amended article to fund all three bridges, it would add 39 cents to the town's tax rate.

That would result in an average increase of $136 on tax bills. That estimate is based on an assessed value of $350,000, the average home value in Salem, said Town Manager Jonathan Sistare.

There's already been a reduction in use of the Lawrence Road and Cluff Crossing bridges by the school district and fire department.

Sistare said that curbed use is costing the town and school district money. School officials have rerouted buses and leased a lighter bus at a cost of $40,000 a year.

Likewise, the fire department only drives over the two bridges when they are going to an emergency. Sistare said that extra time and travel is costing the town as well.

Selectman Michael Lyons said he is hoping people will not be turned off by the idea of a long-term loan.

"This is an excellent example of the value of bonding," Lyons said. "Bonding sometimes has a negative connotation, because you're taking on debt. But taking on debt is perfectly appropriate when you have some critical needs and don't want to spike the tax rate."

Lyons said he is confident voters understand the safety issue the Lawrence and Cluff Crossing bridges pose. But Salem has had a history of falling short of the 66 percent majority vote needed for funding big-dollar projects.

"I'm very confident it gets to 60 (percent), but not so confident it gets to 66. Eking out those last two percentages is really hard," Lyons said.

Recently, a town subcommittee suggested asking voters if they wanted to lower that voting threshold so Salem would not struggle so much when it came to passing municipal projects.

Selectmen have yet to decide whether they will ask voters to change that rule.