RUMFORD – Fewer than three dozen people made quick work of the SAD 43 budget meeting Thursday at River Valley High School.

Within 25 minutes of the start of the 6:30 meeting, all 13 budget articles had been approved as recommended by district directors.

At $14 million, the fiscal ’05 budget is 4.4 percent higher than this year’s spending package.

One of the few articles to generate discussion allows a reserve account for up to $425,000 of unexpended funds from the fiscal 2004 budget. Superintendent James Hodgkin said the reserve will be earmarked for the purchase of laptop computers for freshmen and sophomores.

Hodgkin said establishing a reserve account allows the district to take advantage of related state programs if any are created.

Thursday’s meeting was the final step before school officials put the budget to voters in a district-wide referendum Tuesday.

The referendum asks for a yes or no vote on the budget as written, and a non-binding expression of whether the approved budget is too high or too low.

If voters reject the budget, the entire process begins anew.