PITTSFIELD—A gathering of nearly 70 residents on Wednesday accepted a $10.3 million School Administrative District 53 without any changes.

The second and final step in the budget approval process is set for next week when residents in all three district communities (Burnham, Detroit and Pittsfield) will vote the budget up or down by secret ballot.

Despite shaving $462,000 in expenditures, a combination of decreased state funding, higher property valuations and declining enrollment means an extra $102,000 will have to be raised in local taxes, Gallagher said.

More than $3.3 million of the $10.3 million budget will be raised locally. That represents a 3.19 percent increase over the 2007-08 budget, Gallagher said.

The districtwide referendum is scheduled for Monday, May 12 at the traditional polling place in each community. Voting will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Burnham and Detroit and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Pittsfield.