Salem can expect a nonbinding referendum on casino gambling along with their town and school ballots when they go to the polls in March.

Selectmen discussed the referendum at their meeting Monday and will further talk about the plans at an upcoming meeting on Dec. 17.

Officials from Rockingham Park are expected to attend that meeting to discuss the referendum, Selectman Stephen Campbell said Monday.

"My understanding from talking to (Rockingham Park general manager Ed) Callahan a while ago is (Rockingham Park) is going to pay for every cost associated with posing that question to the voters," Town Manager Keith Hickey said.

Talk of a new gambling referendum surfaced publicly in October when local advocacy group NH Casino Now held a forum at the Elks Lodge.

"We really do want to send a message to Concord," NH Casino Now steering committee member Larry Belair said at that time. "We're kind of tired of Concord kicking it around. We need to let them know up there we're really serious."

Belair said two similar referendums have been held in the past and both times expanded gambling passed "pretty well."

Talk of an expanded gambling proposal in Concord is heating up again as Gov.-elect Maggie Hassan has expressed an open-minded attitude to the idea. Outgoing Gov. John Lynch promised to veto any proposal for expanded gambling. 

Millennium Gaming holds an option to purchase Rockingham Park and develop a casino there should expanded gambling pass.