Lyme — Residents at the annual budget meeting Friday voted to approve the town's $8,657,809 budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The budget is 2.56 percent less than this year's spending plan and will keep the tax rate at the current 13.5 mills, First Selectman Ralph Eno said after the meeting.

Residents of both Lyme and Old Lyme on May 8 voted overwhelmingly in favor of the regional school district's $31 million spending plan.

Voters also approved two land gifts: one from the Young family for 84.37 acres that will be designated for both open space conservation and affordable housing, and another from the Lord family for 1.63 acres near the Hadlyme Fire Station. Parker Lord, who with his wife Diana donated the land, is a selectman in town.

Lastly, residents voted to join the newly formed Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments and gave the Board of Selectmen the authority to approve the consolidation of the Mid-State and Connecticut River Estuary regional planning agencies.

j.cho@theday.com