READFIELD -- Residents overwhelmingly approved a $2.1 million operating budget for the elementary school shortly before midnight Thursday.

The 80-2 vote by secret ballot came at the conclusion of the annual town meeting and after lengthy discussion about a proposal, which failed, to restore money to the budget.

The elementary school budget must be confirmed at the polls in a townwide referendum. Polls will be open Tuesday 4 to 8 p.m. at the Town Office.

Voters also will see two school budget questions at the poll:

* "Do you favor approving the Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Wayne, Community School District budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the latest community School District #10 Annual budget meeting?"

* "Do you favor approving the Readfield Elementary School budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the latest Town Meeting?"

Most of the items on the Town Meeting warrant passed as written, including proposed revisions to the Land Use Ordinance and the Telecommunications Tower Ordinance.

A vote to update the town's Comprehensive Plan was continued to a later date because the committee doing the revisions has more work to do, officials said.