Westborough Town Meeting Rejects $36M Library Renovation

WESTBOROUGH, MA — For the second time in recent months, Westborough Town Meeting on Saturday rejected a proposed library renovation that would've partially been funded by a state grant.

The 715 to 529 vote on Saturday follows a similar vote in October — and an Advisory Finance Committee recommendation made days before the meeting.

The proposal to spend $36 million to renovate the library needed a two-thirds majority to pass. The project would've benefited from a $9.4 million grant from the state Board of Library Commissioners. But that money would only be available if the town approved funding for the entire project.

The measure was rejected after Town Meeting members highlighted issues like rising tax bills and parking issues related to a larger library building.

"The current borrowing interest rate is 4.5%. The estimated tax impact can range from $174-$316 on the average home, with an estimated average annual cost of $245 over the term of the borrow, likely to be 20 years," the Advisory Finance Committee said in a pre-meeting opinion.

The Library Building Committee in charge of the project will meet Tuesday to discuss the "next steps" for the project.