STRONG — Selectmen on Tuesday started 2018 budget deliberations by facing significant increases in employee health insurance costs.

They decided in September to accept United Insurance’s proposal, but some figures have increased since then. The employees’ deductible has increased from $1,200 to $1,700, but the co-pay for prescription drugs remains about the same, according to Chairman Dick Worthley.

“We’re going to be looking at probably a $9,000 increase in insurance appropriation,” he said. “We’ve got to enroll by Dec. 15, I believe.”

This total includes other insurance, such as workers’ compensation and long-term unemployment insurance.

The increase to $68,079 is significant, he told selectmen, but he had researched increases from previous years, and the town approved a $10,000 increase three years ago, he said.

Selectmen also reviewed problems with the Forster Memorial Building’s faulty exterior drainage system.

Selectman Mike Pond said water still seeps into the building, because municipal officials didn’t approve finishing the original drainage project several years ago. There’s a cluster drainage system around the building that sends water into a culvert that runs uphill.

He had been involved in that repair project, but the problem wasn’t resolved, he said.

“We tried to replace a culvert a few years ago, but it didn’t work, because the selectmen didn’t approve it,” he said.

He suggested asking taxpayers to approve funds for a new culvert and other drainage repairs, as well as carpeting that has been soaked repeatedly over the years.

Some of the basement Sheetrock should be examined for mold and replaced where needed, he said.

Selectmen agreed to review ways to budget for these anticipated costs.