MINOT — Selectmen Monday began their review of next year’s proposed town budget which will be voted on at the March 2011 town meeting.

While the board took no action, members agreed to make final recommendations at the Dec. 27 meeting.

The proposed budget for town departments, as presented by Town Administrator Arlan Saunders, stands at about $16,000 less than the current budget — and does not include either money for schools or to pay the town’s county tax bill.

After a first look at the proposed budget, Selectman Eda Tripp said the board was going to have to do better than what’s on paper now if the goal is to keep town property taxes flat.

“We know the schools are going to be receiving less next year. We know revenue sharing will be down, as will money coming back from tree growth and a bunch of other revenues,” Tripp said.

The proposed budget includes a $15,800 cut in spending for the highway department.

The majority of the $191,000 proposed for next summer’s paving program is earmarked for Shaw Hill Road, which Saunders said he hoped to piggyback with a federal grant to deal with the culvert problem at Indian Brook, which would involve elevating about 300 feet of Shaw Hill Road in the vicinity.

Saunders noted that this year the town made final payments on a highway truck and a loader, which total over $68,000.

However, Saunders is recommending the town purchase a new plow truck, which Saunders estimated would cost the town about $32,000 a year for five years. For that price, it would be fully equipped, ready to go. Should townspeople support the new plow truck, Saunders said he would recommend sale of the town’s 1989 wheeler and a sander.

Selectman Dean Campbell noted that the Recreation Committee was asking for $40,000 to begin work on a new multipurpose field in Minot Memorial Park and questioned whether this should be considered a need or a want.

“Perhaps that could be something we put off for a year,” Campbell said.

In other business, Saunders reported that lawyers for the town and for Chuck Starbird are still preparing their filings in the case that has arisen over the town’s refusal to give Starbird a building permit for his property off the end of York Road. Saunders said it will be at least three or four months before the case comes before Superior Court.