WINCHENDON – One of two Proposition 2 ½ overrides to shore up town finances and maintain services has passed the Town Election, but a second round vote awaits at the upcoming Town Meeting.

The two overrides – one for $1.9 million and another for $2.9 million – are needed to cope with a $4 million budget increase over last fiscal year, due mainly to a significant increase to health insurance and pension costs.

The lesser amount would allow Beals Memorial Library and the senior center to stay open, while maintaining program and staffing levels in Winchendon Public Schools. The larger of the two would add staffing, additional security, and pay for updated sports equipment and uniforms for the schools.

At the May 5, Town Election, Question 2, for the larger override, was defeated by a vote of 1,105-645. Question 1, however, managed to pass with just 12 votes, 896-884.

In all, 1,794 out of a total of 8,226 registered voters, nearly 22%, showed up to cast ballots.

Upon hearing the results, Beals Memorial head librarian Manuel King simply responded, “Whew.”

Tuesday morning, King told the Athol Daily News that when he went to the Old Murdock Senior Center, where balloting was taking place, “I saw people coming down the stairs with really long faces and they were shaking their heads as if both questions had failed. So, by the time I got to the top of the stairs, I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God. The worst of the worst has happened.’”

But poll workers, he said, “Had to calculate and recalculate and it came to pass that, yes, Question 1 had passed. So, we went from being way down to being very hopeful. And this morning we got the official numbers and Question 1 did in fact pass.”

While supporters were urging passage of both ballot questions, they were still pleased that at least one received enough votes.

Much of the voter outreach done prior to the election came from boosters of Beals Memorial Library. Signs dotted the landscape throughout the Toy Town, with an occasional handmade sign urging a “no” vote seen here and there.

However, while the passage of Question 1 buoyed the spirits of library supporters, there is still plenty of organizing to be done.

In order for the override to be officially endorsed by Winchendon voters, it needs to pass at the upcoming Annual Town Meeting. If it fails to attract majority support at that time, the town will be faced with the potential closure of the library and senior center, a reduction in parks and recreation programming, and the elimination of school athletic programs.

Much of the campaign against passage of the overrides was waged online. Most people posting on Facebook contend their property taxes are already too high and that most taxpayers simply can’t afford an increase in their annual assessments.

Others raised the issue of getting little return on their investment. Some criticized town officials for what they feel is poor management of the town’s finances.

King added that the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library are planning an open house at the library on Saturday, May 17, two days ahead of Town Meeting.

“We want to invite people into the library so they can actually see what goes on here, what we do and the services we provide,” he said. “I know they’ve been going door-to-door, knocking on doors and talking to people and they will continue to do that, and calling their friends and family, even sending out personal letters encouraging urging people to come to the Town Meeting.”

The Town Meeting takes place Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Murdock Middle/High School.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.