SAD 29’s increased budget passes smoothly

HOULTON – Taxpayers in SAD 29 expressed little opposition to the proposed $10 million school budget, passing the 2005-2006 plan at a brief meeting Thursday evening.

Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick said Friday that 25 voters showed up to take part in the meeting.

“I thought that it went very well,” he said. “I was not sure what to expect as far as attendance, because there were several scheduling conflicts and a dance recital going on at the same time. We had three articles that were passed with only one dissenting vote, and the rest of the articles were passed unanimously.”

This year’s $10 million forecast was up more than $479,000 from last year, mainly because of increases in fuel oil and insurance.

Taxpayers in Houlton, Littleton, Hammond and Monticello, the towns that make up the district, will contribute $198,055 more toward the local share of education than they did last year.

There were some questions at the meeting, the superintendent said, and one voter expressed concern about the spiraling cost of educating students from Hammond on the town’s taxpayers.

“A small hike impacts all of our towns tremendously, and there was concern about that,” he explained, noting that there are only 17 or 18 students from Hammond in SAD 29. “It is just getting expensive, and that’s true for everyone.”

Under the budget, Hammond residents will commit $65,845; Houlton residents, $2.1 million; Littleton residents, $342,490; and Monticello residents, $340,694.

The newly approved budget includes funding for a staff person to assist with the district’s technology program, along with money for an additional teacher for the gifted and talented program.