Preston — Residents on Thursday urged the Board of Finance to restore funding in the town budget for a second resident state trooper and also to add $80,000 to the school budget to cover after-school sports, elementary school Spanish and other programs cut to meet the finance board's budget cuts.

In a special meeting following the two-hour budget hearing, the Board of Finance voted 4-2 to restore the $80,000 to the school budget as requested by numerous residents. The finance board then voted to keep the single resident state trooper in next year's budget, with comments that the town could add a second resident trooper at any time during the year.

The audience of about 70 residents at Thursday's budget public hearing gave an extended round of applause when resident Antonio Ferinha pleaded to restore cuts to the school budget that led the Board of Education to cut all after-school sports and activities and to eliminate elementary school Spanish. Ferinha said the programs cut help make Preston children “well rounded” students and prepare them for Norwich Free Academy.

Several parents of young children echoed those sentiments, but resident Pat Biggins suggested the Board of Education reverse a decision made in 2013 to establish a preschool for all age-eligible Preston students. She said the school board should go back to tuition-based preschool and said senior citizens in town cannot afford property tax increases.

Prior to the late votes to restore funds, the combined town, school and debt service budgets totaled $16 million. With the restored funds for the Board of Education, the town's tax rate would be 24.2 mills.

The Board of Finance will present the final budget to residents at a June 8 town meeting. Residents will vote on the budget at a June 20 referendum.

Superintendent John Welch said of the $311,000 total school budget cut, $217,067 directly affected the students, including the after-school programs and elementary school Spanish. But Welch said program changes for two special education students made last week should save $137,067, meaning the school budget would need $80,000 to restore all after-school programs, Spanish and other programs and supplies for students.

Many in the audience applauded comments from residents in favor of restoring $204,561 cut by the finance board to reduce the town police coverage from two to one resident state trooper. The cut left $209,961 in the resident trooper budget.

Resident Jody Sheelley, a retired Norwich firefighter, said emergency services response time is critical. Sheelley relayed an incident six years ago, when he was first on the scene of a truck roll-over on Route 164 in Preston. As he attempted to assist a victim, he was struck by a vehicle and was unable to move on the roadway when the resident trooper arrived.

“Response time is everything in emergency services,” Sheelley said.

Resident Michael Clancy, however, said the money for resident troopers should be removed, and the town should consider alternatives for improved police coverage. A subcommittee of the Emergency Services Advisory Committee recently reviewed proposals from Norwich and Ledyard police to provide coverage for Preston. The committee recommended remaining with two resident troopers for now, while continuing to study future town needs.

Resident Patricia Riley agreed with that approach, and urged the Board of Finance to restore the second trooper. She said the town can consider alternative police coverage when the proposed major development at the former Norwich Hospital property gets underway. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority plans a $200 million to $600 million development at the former Norwich Hospital property, with construction expected to start in late 2019.

c.bessette@theday.com