Town officials held the first of two public discussion forums about the upcoming June 17 special election where voters will decide whether or not to pass a $4.5 million Proposition 2 1/2 override.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan and Wareham Schools Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood detailed what the override money would account for this year and where town officials plan to invest over the next five years.

Selectman Peter Teitelbaum said 71 percent of towns and cities in Massachusetts have voted in favor of overrides since Proposition 2 1/2 was passed, including the Town of Shrewsbury, which passed a $5.5 million override this week by nearly a two to one majority.

First, Sullivan explained what has already been lost.

"Over the last seven to eight years we've lost 30 percent of our workforce," he said.

Sullivan said that 63,128 yearly work hours have been cut from the budget since fiscal year 2007, which is the equivalent to 30 employees.

"Even though workloads have increased, state mandates have increased and the town has grown in size," he said.

Sullivan that if there is no override, the town will have 102 employees or full-time equivalents, which he said is unacceptable because several departments would be understaffed.

"That's one of the things that generally makes my blood boil," Sullivan said. "I don't want to have doors closed, I want residents to have their town services."

Sullivan detailed where the Proposition 2 1/2 money would go for 2015, including:

-$475,00 for six new police recruits (which includes salaries, benefits and expenses). The balanced budget provides for no new hires, and the police department will lose one lieutenant and one patrolman regardless of which budget is passed.

"We’re down six people and probably a seventh on the way who is probably going to be hired by the FBI,” interim Police Chief Kevin Walsh said at a January department head meeting.

An override would also include:

- An additional $277,000 for the Wareham Free Library, to meet the certification requirements set by the state Board of Library Commissioners. The library would also be able to be open Tuesday through Saturday.

- $98,000 for a school and town shared human resources director, which accounts for salary and benefits. "An HR director will usually save you money," Sullivan said at a joint meeting last month. "Having what is essentially a company with a $60 million budget without an HR director is crazy."

- $100,000 in funding for the Council on Aging. The past two years the Council on Aging has received $82,000 in funding from the Town.

Sullivan said the extra funds in the override would provide for a licensed social worker who would go out in the senior community. The balanced budget provides no town funding for the Council on Aging.

Shaver-Hood detailed what the override would mean to the schools, including:

- A restoration of the last round of cuts made by the school, which amounts to $365,000 in salaries, accounting for five to six teaching positions and $50,000 in other expenditures, such as late bus runs and school supplies. According to Wareham School District Business Manager Michael MacMillan, if the override were to be approved, it would equal approximately 12 fewer faculty cuts than the roughly 34 positions that would be lost in the balanced budget.

- $402,000 for four additional math and reading specialists for first through third grade (including salaries and benefits).

- $200,000 for improved technology infrastructure for the schools.

- $100,000 to convert the Multi-Service Center to accommodate the West Academy and Co-op schools, which according to town officials could save $205,000 over the next five years.

"It will be very difficult to keep up with the expectations of modern schools as we're currently using outdated technology," Shaver-Hood said.

The next public meeting discussing the override will be on June 12 in the Wareham Middle School auditorium at 5:30 p.m.

A breakdown of the balanced and contingent budgets can be found here on the town website.