HANOVER – Residents will be able to stay warmer and cleaner this year when they attend the annual town meeting on Thursday. A new propane heater has taken the place of the ancient oil burner at the Town House, said Town Clerk Clem Worcester.

They will also honor a volunteer of the year, as nominated by the town clerk and deputy town clerk and chosen by selectmen. This will be the fourth year they do that.

During the meeting that begins at 6 p.m., residents will decide whether to approve a municipal and school budget of $378,379, up about 4.5 percent from last year’s adopted budget of $363,017. If all articles are passed, the tax rate is expected to rise slightly less than $1 from the rate now, $15.40 per $1,000 valuation.

New on this year’s 45-article warrant is a request for $3,000 to pay a stipend to each of the Planning Board members, contingent upon the number of meetings each attends.

Worcester said a survey of area towns has shown that most pay a stipend to their planning board members. Also, he said, the board has experienced an increase in pressure because of development in the town.

A new fee schedule for building and other permits is also expected to be introduced.

Also new is a request for $10,000 to put toward a revaluation of all town properties. Worcester said this will be the first of three years to raise a similar amount. He said about $30,000 is needed for the work.

The last time properties underwent a revaluation was at least 10 years ago.

Funding requests for capital projects and roads has risen about $9,000, largely because of the need to replace the so-called Second Bridge on Howard Pond Road.

Voters will be asked to approve just under $15,000 as the town’s share of the Region 9 School of Applied Technology budget, as well as about $200,000 for tuitioning the town’s children to SAD 44, SAD 43 or Gould Academy.

The positions of selectman and school member will be filled from nominations from the floor. Deputy Town Clerk Kelly Crockett said she expects longtime incumbent Selectman Brenda Gross and school committee member Ruth Brown to seek additional three-year terms for the seats. Also to be elected are one-year terms for town clerk, treasurer and tax collector, posts all now held by Worcester.

Tax bills are expected to be mailed by mid-November. Residents have until June to pay them in full.