CANTON — After lenghty deliberation Thursday night, selectmen set the 2013-14 tax rate at $21.20 per thousand dollars of valuation.

It’s an increase of $1.55.

Selectmen considered rates from $21.10 to $21.30. The difference is in the amount of “overlay” or surplus added to the expenditures authorized by the town. This overlay is used to cover unexpected expenses, with any unspent amount being added to the town Surplus Fund. These funds can only be spent if authorized at a special town meeting.

Chairman Shane Gallant said that last year the town came in a little below budget and did not have to spend any of the overlay. However, selectmen unanimously agreed that the $21.20 rate, which provides an overlay of $19,724.80, was as low as they could prudently go.

Gallant explained that the increase resulted from an increase of $25,000 in the town budget approved by the voters, an $18,500 increase in the RSU 10 assessment, and a decrease of $27,000 in state revenue sharing. The town expects to raise $1,056,196.90 from taxes in the current fiscal year.

Selectmen authorized spending $3,180 for a land survey of town property acquired with the dam site. The survey is needed so the town can sell the property. Half of the cost will be reimbursed through a federal Environmental Protection Agency grant.

Harris Government, which furnishes the TRIO software used by the town, offered to provide a Disaster Recovery Backup Service for $975 per year.

Selectman Brian Keene said the same quality service was available for under $100 per year from the source used by the school system. The selectmen rejected Harris Government’s offer.

Several matters were called to the selectmen’s attention during the open session.

Selectmen will deal with residents who have been storing campers on town property.

Malcolm Ray, managing partner at RoadSafe LLC in Canton, has approval from the town to use a section of open town property to conduct full-scale functional tests on roadside barriers designed by his company. Road Safe works internationally on roadside and highway safety, design and analysis of impact resistant structures and crashworthiness of transportation vehicles. Ray donated many hours of professional service to the Whitney Brook Dam project.

Selectmen said they have banned an organization from using the Fire Department meeting room because it did not respond to several requests to clean up their mess. They did not identify the group.