YARMOUTH — Only 55 of the town’s nearly 7,400 registered voters attended Tuesday’s Town Meeting and ratified the school and municipal budgets.

They approved 27 articles on the meeting warrant, including a $19.5 million school budget and $10.5 million municipal budget.

Residents voted by secret ballot as required by state law, and passed an article allowing the town to exceed the Essential Programs and Services funding cap, 49-3. The total budget for fiscal year 2011 is $30.9 million, a reduction of $302,000 or 0.97 percent from this year.

After the 27 articles were passed, the meeting was adjourned until 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, when voters will elect municipal officers, School Committee members, vote on the school budget as ratified by Town Meeting. There will also be gubernatorial primaries and balloting on statewide referendums and bond questions.

Voting will take place at the AMVETS Hall on North Road from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Also at Town Meeting, Margaret Downing was named Latchstring Award recipient for her service and leadership in the town.

Downing was honored for her service to the community, including work on the board of directors of the YWCA, the Maine Science and Technology Commission, Partners in Ending Hunger, Safe Passage and Yarmouth Senior Housing, as well as volunteering with Yarmouth Fire-Rescue and citizenship tutoring.

Town Council Chairman Mark Hough was honored for his six years of service. He said he could not have done his job without support from the members of the Town Council, his family and the community.

Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-361 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net

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