YARMOUTH — After months of review and deliberation, councilors had little more to say last week about the fiscal year 2013 budgets.

The public did not add much more in a hearing preceding a council workshop, so it took about 10 minutes to advance $32 million in school and municipal spending to the June 5 Town Meeting.

“The council is satisfied with budget explanations,” Chairman Steve Woods said before the vote.

The budget was forwarded supported by a 5-1 vote, with Councilor Tim Sanders opposed. The Town Meeting warrant outlining school and municipal spending items passed unanimously.

Councilor Erving Bickford, who will be awarded the 2012 Latchstring Award at the Town Meeting at Harrison Middle School, was unable to attend the council meeting.

The Town Meeting warrant contains 29 articles, including a secret ballot vote asking residents to appropriate $4.6 million above the state Essential Programs and Services amount of $13.5 million for the local share of education spending.

Articles 2 through 13 summarize the “cost centers” related to school spending to reach the total of $20.16 million for the proposed school budget.

Articles 21 through 29 detail municipal spending. Residents will be asked to approve spending $2.26 million for general government, $2.25 million for public safety, and $2.88 million for public works while allocating $3.9 million from non-property tax revenues to fund the budget.

In total, the local tax commitment for education spending for fiscal year 2013 is $18.23 million. The proposed $10.9 million municipal budget will require $7 million in property tax revenue.

Overall, funding education, municipal operations and the town share of Cumberland County operations will require a tax increase of 87 cents, from the current rate of $20.28 per $1,000 of assessed vale to $21.15 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The Town Meeting will be followed on June 12 by the election for three Town Council seats, three School Board seats and one seat on the Yarmouth Water District. The referendum for the $20.16 million fiscal year 2013 school budget will be held the same day.

Polls at the Robert Boyd AMVETS Post 2 on North Road will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 12.

David Harry can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or dharry@theforecaster.net. Follow David on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.

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