SAD 53 voters approve $9.4M budget proposal

PITTSFIELD – SAD 53 voters in the towns of Pittsfield, Burnham and Detroit approved a $9.4 million proposed budget in Tuesday’s elections.

The budget was passed by a 2-to-1 margin on most questions.

The bottom line of the budget, however, was a closer vote. On that question, 385 people said yes while 245 said no, a difference of 140 votes.

Even the town of Burnham, which was hardest hit with a $4.1 million valuation increase that pushed the town’s share of the budget up by $72,000, approved the final figures.

SAD 53 Superintendent Michael Gallagher said Wednesday he was pleased the budget passed handily.

“I thought it was a responsible budget and apparently the voters thought so as well,” he said.