The Scarborough Town Council voted 4-2 Wednesday night to reduce the proposed school budget by $500,000 in the hope of winning voter approval in a second validation referendum on July 7.

Town residents voted June 9 to reject a proposed $43.8 million school budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 that was up 4.3 percent over this year’s $42 million budget.

The vote was 1,719 to 1,408 against the proposed budget. On a non-binding companion question, 1,761 voters said the budget was too high, 619 said it was too low and 710 said it was just right.

With the initial school budget, the property tax rate for municipal and school services would have increased 87 cents or 5.78 percent, from $15.10 to $15.97 per $1,000 of assessed value. That would have added $261 to the annual tax bill on a $300,000 home.

With a $500,000 school budget reduction, the tax rate would increase 72 cents or 4.75 percent to $15.82 per $1,000, which would add $216 to the same tax bill.

Councilors Edward Blaise, Shawn Babine, Peter Hayes and Chairwoman Jessica Holbrook voted in favor of the $500,000 reduction, with Jean Marie Caterina and William Donovan opposed, and Katherine St. Clair absent.