Residents filled about half of Hopkinton High School’s gymnasium during the annual School District Meeting, passing all of the articles after about a three-hour discussion.

The Saturday, March 8, meeting went by with only a small amount of debate as the $15.5 million operating budget passed.

Of the town’s 4,508 registered voters, only 287 were in attendance for the morning meeting, with a large group leaving after the operating budget passed with only a scattering of votes opposing it.

One concern raised at the microphone came from resident Tom Zlotucha.

“The main reason I am here today is because I am concerned about budgets and how they affect my taxes and well-being,” he said. “Taxes are increasing, and I don’t know where that ends. I’m not concerned about the quality of education, because I think we have something we can be proud of.”

Several residents praised the School Board and Budget Committee for working well together, saying it was one of the better budgets in recent memory.

The only ballot vote of the day came after discussion of Article 4, which asked voters to make the School Board agents for the repair and maintenance expendable trust fund.

“The goal is so that we can respond in real-time replacing things when they need to be replaced, not before they need to be. In terms of efficiency, this is the best way to go,” said School Board member Larry Donahue about the article.

Those in attendance lined up at the four ballot boxes and dropped their neon pink ballots in, passing the budget, 179-92.

Residents also voted to add $50,000 to the general contingency fund for unanticipated expenses, as well as up to $25,000 to the maintenance trust fund and the educating educationally disabled children trust fund. The two trust fund additions will come out of surplus money available on June 30.

The only heated exchanges during the meeting came after all the articles had passed as residents turned their discussion to whether the town should switch to SB2, or official ballot voting form of government.Although the vote on the issue came during the Tuesday, March 11, election, many residents voiced their opinions during the district meeting.

The operating budget increased about $551,000, or 3.68 percent, although board member Marshall Rowe said 77 percent of the increases are tied to salary and contractual agreements.