DIXFIELD – Selectmen haven’t decided yet whether they want a thorough inspection of the town’s sewer system, or whether they will continue as they have, calling in specialists when needed.

The board met in a special meeting Tuesday night as Sewer Department trustees to review three proposals for a new 2007 budget.

In the end, they agreed to table until next Monday’s selectmen’s meeting a decision on whether to go with $173,442, $143,092 or $141,092.

The highest figure would include testing and cleaning each year of a portion of the 42,000 feet of sewer lines in the town.

The middle figure would allow for $5,500 in additional consulting work, and the lowest figure would permit some consulting work along with routine tests and pumping.

The 2006 budget was $147,546.

Town Manager Jeff Jacobson said Maine Rural Water has suggested the need for the town to start looking at preventive maintenance for the 50-plus-year-old system. He did not, however, encourage the board to look at the highest budget proposal.

Board Chairman Bettina Martin said a series of workshops should be held to discuss sewer department information and well as a possible rate increase for the town’s 574 customers.

In another matter, Jacobson said he and Martin will meet with auditor Keel Hood next Tuesday to go over the annual municipal, sewer and water audits.

He said Hood wants to discuss the audit at a meeting rather than through the usual recommendation letter.

“If there had been any serious errors, we would have heard already,” he said.

The results of the meeting with Hood will be presented at the board’s Jan. 8 meeting.

Jacobson said the audit, for the year ending on June 30, was completed about six weeks ago.