UPTON — At the end of the longest town meeting in at least a decade, residents Thursday approved a budget of about 7 percent higher than this year’s and narrowly agreed to pay for a total revaluation of the municipality’s 250 properties.

Assistant Town Clerk James Rector, who was also re-elected to additional one-year terms as tax collector and treasurer, said residents approved a budget of $273,634. That includes $34,000 for for the revaluation.

Rector said a majority of residents also wanted the funds needed for the revaluation to come completely from taxation rather than some from taxation and some from surplus.

The vote on revaluation was 15-12.

Voters last September narrowly rejected having a revaluation.

With that change, combined with an additional $8,000 to be raised through taxation rather than from surplus for the town’s transfer station, Rector said he is expecting a 26 percent property tax increase, from $7.50 per $1,000 valuation to about $9.50.

Rector said a total revaluation has not been conducted for about 30 years. Selectmen are expected to hire Wade and Dian Rainey of West Paris for the work. He expects it to be completed within the next few months.

In other action, residents decided to allow the school savings account to transfer $3,000 per year, up to $15,000, to the student scholarship account. In a related matter, they also approved paying the state’s rate toward the tuition at a private school for Upton students.

John Aron, school bus driver for the town, was narrowly elected as the newest School Committee member over incumbent Jennifer Casey. Upton is not a member of a school district and instead pays tuition for its half-dozen students.

Town Clerk Michelle Bouchard and Selectman Norman Mercier both ran unopposed for additional terms in their positions.

Voters also changed the date for payment of property taxes from Sept. 30 without penalty, to 60 days after selectmen mail the bills.

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