North Stonington — The town will meet for a third town meeting July 23 before a July 30 vote on a $18.4 million budget proposal for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

It’ll be the town’s third try at passing a budget for what is now the current fiscal year. First Selectman Nicholas H. Mullane said the town has been operating on last year’s $18.01 million budget since the fiscal year ended July 1.

The current proposal is about $400,000 – or 1.6 percent – than last year’s budget, with about $12.1 million for education and $6.3 million proposed for general government. During the July 30 vote, residents will have the opportunity to vote on each of the two parts of the budget.

If accepted, the general budget would increase about $500,000, while education spending would increase by about $14,000, or 0.12 percent.

The last proposal, an $18.9 million budget, was struck down by a nearly two-to-one vote. At the July 2 referendum, 447 residents voted against the $6.5 million general government budget, with 251 voting in favor of it. Residents defeated the $12.4 million school budget by a vote of 449-251.

Next Monday’s town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the elementary school’s multi-purpose room. On July 30, town hall will be open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. for referendum voting.