FORT KENT – About 70 residents of SAD 27 took 20 minutes Tuesday night to pass a school budget of $9,165,419 to operate the district’s four elementary schools and one high school.

The seven-town district budget for 2002-2003 is up about $450,000 over this year’s budget of $8,710,330.

The approved budget is cutting the local property tax share of the district by nearly $10,000, from $2,878,335 this year to $2,868,538 next year.

Other local money, for transportation, food services and student activities, are expected to bring in about $28,000, up to $298,750 next year compared to $270,450 this year.

State revenues will increase $192,000 from $5,030,784 this year to $5,222,998 next year. Tuition will bring in $97,000 more.

State money, which includes tuition for unorganized territories, will be $5,641,329.

Local money, which includes tuition from Allagash and cash balances, amounts to $3,524,090.