After considering possible warrant articles, the potential for a level-funded budget or something close to it may be good, Salem selectmen said.

A level-funded budget will have the town paying the same amount this year as last year.

“Depending on how town meeting goes, the town will be level funded,” said selectmen Chairman Michael Lyons.

Still, Town Manager Henry LaBranche said there might be potential costs coming from environmental cleanup at the Beedee Waste Oil site in Plaistow, and union negotiations.

In order to maintain a level funded budget, the town would have to keep the cost of warrant articles below $4.6 million, LaBranche said.

Lyons’ statement came after Community Development Director William Scott presented a list of projects that could become warrant articles in March.

While the projects total some $13 million, $4 million has already been funded in the existing budget and $5 million will be covered through a bond or loan, Scott said.

The remaining balance will come from a variety of the town’s funds including water and sewer fees.

Scott said it is still uncertain how much taxpayers will be asked to contribute or whether selectmen will approve all of the proposed projects.

Scott’s major projects include road work on Shore Drive, plans for a new police station, and a town-wide traffic study, among others.

Even if the budget isn’t exactly level-funded, selectman Everett McBride Jr. said he’s hopeful any increase will be small.

“With everything we’re accomplishing, this is going to be a very good tax rate,” he said.

Scott breezed through his presentation, which encompasses 2007 to 2017, with little discussion or objection from selectmen.

The only project selectmen said they wouldn’t support was one for $14,000 to do electrical repairs at the Field of Dreams.

Scott’s project, which would have the town paying $7,000 for the repairs, drew major criticism.

Lyons, McBride and selectman Ron Belanger said they didn’t want to support the project because the park is not run by the town.

Traditionally, the town has not funded the park in any capacity and selectmen said they’d like to keep the current situation.

“I wouldn’t support tax money going into it,” Belanger said.

“It’s a private organization.” Selectmen will vote on the warrant articles in December.