Under pressure from outraged taxpayers, Canton city leaders have rescinded a 19.45-mill school tax increase they had approved in a special meeting less than 24 hours earlier.

Mayor Fred Esco recommended Tuesday that aldermen rescind their 4-3 vote made Monday and instead approve a smaller increase of 7.7 mills for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Aldermen unanimously went with the mayor’s recommendation. Esco had said he was prepared to veto Monday’s vote if the recommendation was not heeded.

Esco said the city passed the 19.45-mill increase at the request of the Canton Public School District board to cover a shortfall in tax revenue.