HOULTON – A small voter turnout approved the SAD 29 budget for the 2007-08 school year during a public hearing late last week.

Kelly Farnham, a secretary in the superintendent’s office, characterized the June 28 hearing attended by 26 voters as “quick, smooth and easy.”

Taxpayers approved the $11.2 million budget during a session at the Houlton Southside School.

The district educates approximately 1,300 students and includes the towns of Houlton, Littleton, Monticello and Hammond.

This year’s budget increased approximately $500,000 over last year’s $10.7 million tab, which Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick attributed to the increasing costs of fuel oil and salaries.

Fitzpatrick said recently that taxpayers in Houlton, Littleton and Hammond would not be asked to contribute more to the local share of education.

But Monticello’s valuation increased slightly from last year, and the town will contribute approximately $455 more to the district than it did last year.