SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - South Hadley’s School Committee met on Wednesday evening, and one of the items on the agenda: what comes next after voters rejected the proposition 2 1/2 override.

The discussion comes after South Hadley voters shot down proposals to increase property taxes aimed at helping close a $3 million budget deficit and protect resources for South Hadley schools as well as the town’s public library and senior center.

Town officials said the deficit is driven by rising health insurance costs, along with cuts in state and grant funding. After voters rejected a $9 million and $11 million override questions on April 14th, the town was left without an immediate way to close budget gaps for the coming years.

While many taxpayers felt relief avoiding those higher tax bills, the school community is clearly feeling the weight of what’s next. Last Tuesday the select board, school committee, appropriations committee, and capital planning committee held a joint meeting, discussing the possibility of a new, smaller override potentially going out to voters in a June special election before the end of the fiscal year.

School committee members weighed in on that option during tonight’s meeting, “I did not expect the override to fail as miserably as it did the first time, and I think it would be a poor move for us to try and do one again immediately though I also fully agree that we need one,” said committee member Danielle Cook.

The select board is expected to decide its next step on May 5th.

During a South Hadley Select Board meeting Tuesday night, the appropriations committee recommended using $1.5 million in free cash to help fill the budget gap and support the schools next year.

On May 5th, select board members are expected to vote to finalize a warrant on that, which would go before town meeting on May 13th.