Selectmen met Monday night and debated whether to send on 16 warrant articles to the Budget Committee for review.

They held off on a warrant article asking voters for $300,000 to purchase the state Department of Transportation highway shed on Route 27. Selectman Paul Brown wanted to wait until Town Manager Rick Bates and selectmen were able to meet with DOT Director Carol Murray this week. Brown said he believes the price the state is asking for is too high.

Here is an overview of warrant articles:

1) $1 million for design and construction of a water storage structure and test wells, and issue not more than $1 million for a bond.

2) $430,900 for the replacement of a fire engine, air handling system for the highway vehicle garage, a 4-by-4 vehicle for the Police Department and 10 air tanks for the Fire Department. The money will be released from the capital reserve fund to pay for the replacements.

3) $49,320.53 in 2005 for wages and benefits increases included in the collective bargaining agreement between the town and the Teamsters Local 633 of New Hampshire.

4) $8,234,154 for an operating budget including a pay-as-you-throw trash program. If this doesn’t pass, a default budget of $8,071,139 with trash pick-up, would go into effect. The proposed operating budget still needs to be reviewed and revised by the Budget Committee.

5) $39,033 additional funds for the 2005 capital reserve fund. This includes $33 for sidewalks, $25,000 for a master plan update, $11,000 for new town facilities such as a town hall or police station, $2,000 for facilities maintenance, $1,000 town office technology.

6) $337,960 to be deposited into the previously established capital reserve funds.

7) $65,000 to be deposited into the previously established capital reserve fund for a treatment plant, clean wells, painting tank towers and pickup truck replacement.

8) $5,000 for a new town well capital reserve fund.

9) $82,647 for social service agencies such as the American Red Cross.

10) $2,000 for Raymond scholarship fund for high school graduating seniors.

11) $200,000 for paving.

12) $145,000 for road reconstruction projects.

13) $3,000 for the annual Fourth of July parade.

14) Establish a special account to deposit fire inspection fees and later use the funds to purchase a Fire Department utility truck.

15) $15,000 for "road-calming measures" such as speed bumps on Lake Road.

The town is planning to present 27 warrant articles to the voters in March, not including petition warrant articles. The town had 42 warrant articles last year, selectmen said.