Preston ― The Board of Finance held a special online meeting Wednesday to affirm action taken last week to cut $150,000 from the proposed 2023-24 school budget after questions arose about whether last week’s meeting had been properly publicized.

During Wednesday’s brief meeting, the board voted unanimously without comment to cut $150,000 from the $14.5 million school budget that was rejected by voters on May 25. The board also affirmed its vote last week to raise projected town revenues by $30,000, noting anticipated higher than expected interest income.

The two budget changes would result in a proposed tax rate of 22.95 mills, down from the 23.24 mills the initial town and school budgets would have required. This year’s tax rate is 27.88 mills, but in a year of property revaluation that greatly increased home values, some homeowners complained they would face steep tax increases even with a lower tax rate.

Voters at the May 25 budget referendum had rejected the proposed $14.5 million school budget for next fiscal year by 37 votes. They also approved the $4.9 million town government budget by 44 votes.

During a special meeting following the referendum, the Board of Finance voted to cut $150,000 from the school budget and to raise town revenue projections by $30,000 in interest income. But after that vote, questions were raised about the legality of the meeting, prompting Wednesday’s online special meeting to affirm the changes.

The town meeting on the school budget has been tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. June 7 at Preston Veterans’ Memorial School. The second referendum is set for June 15 with Preston Plains Middle School as the polling place.

c.bessette@theday.com