PARIS — Voters in School Administrative District 17 towns approved the $40.9 million budget, 744-415, on Tuesday.

The budget represents a 2.45% increase over the current budget of $39.7 million and an average local assessment increase to taxpayers in the eight towns of 4.97%.

The spending plan does not include subsidized costs for vocational education, which goes directly to Oxford Hills Technical School. Only the expenses that exceed the subsidized part ($139,617) are included in the SAD 17 budget.

“The board works very hard to balance the needs of the district with the challenges taxpayers have to fund the budget,” Superintendent Rick Colpitts said Wednesday morning. “That is a very difficult balance to reach.”

Results are as follows:

Harrison: 87 yes, 48 no

Hebron: 29 yes; 11 no

Norway: 163 yes, 63 no

Ottisfield: 55 yes, 18 no

Oxford: 237 yes, 128 no

Paris: 122 yes, 118 no

Waterford: 25 yes, 7 no

West Paris: 26 yes; 22 no