STACYVILLE – After few inquiries and little discussion, more than 130 taxpayers in SAD 25 voted to pass the district’s $3.7 million school budget.

“The meeting went very well,” Superintendent John Doe said Friday. “All of the articles passed. We held a 45-minute informational session to explain the budget to residents before the vote, and they passed the budget a half-hour later.”

This year’s budget is up $284,836 over last year, but an additional $236,981 in state subsidy was added to the forecast. That bequest helped lessen the burden on taxpayers, reducing the actual increase of the local share to the four towns in SAD 25 to $47,736.

The superintendent attributed the budget spike to insurance, fuel and salary increases. The district also needed to buy a new fire alarm system for the high school, along with snowplowing equipment and a new school bus.

This year’s fiscal picture was much brighter for the rural district. SAD 25 lost $121,000 in state aid at budget time last year. Gov. John Baldacci had recommended a $750 million appropriation for school subsidy. His proposal was thwarted when the Legislature affirmed only $740.4 million.

The drastic cut sent the school board back to find ways to make up for the shortfall.

Doe said Friday that he found the community support at the recent meeting gratifying. “We had excellent attendance and excellent input and feedback from the community,” he said. “We are very pleased with how it turned out.”