HOULTON, Maine — Voters in Regional School Unit 29 in Houlton opted not to repeat last year’s rejections of the school budget and instead approved a $12.8 million budget for the district the first time it was presented to them Tuesday.
A year ago, residents twice voted down the budget proposal before approving it during a third try at the polls.
Turnout was low Tuesday, with just 302 voters from Houlton, Hammond, Littleton and Monticello casting ballots, town managers and clerks in the communities confirmed Wednesday.
Although Monticello and Hammond voters opted to reject the budget, voters in Houlton and Littleton tipped the scales in favor of its passage. Houlton approved the budget by 160 votes to 69, while Littleton favored it 17 to 14. Voters in Monticello opposed the budget with 15 in favor, 19 opposed. Only three Hammond residents approved the budget while five opposed it.
Taxpayers will be paying a larger share in this year’s budget because of several factors, including reductions in state subsidies, Superintendent Mike Hammer said last month. He said the state will provide $8.9 million in funding to the RSU 29 budget, a decrease of $303,691 from last year.
At the same time, the district needs to come up with $3.3 million in local funding to receive the $8.9 million.
According to the budget, Hammond will contribute $68,649, which is an increase of $7,295 over last year. Houlton will put in $2.6 million, an increase of $230,758, while Littleton will contribute $491,908, an increase of 38,805 over last year. Monticello will add in $395,982, an increase of $34,701.