Worried it would hurt schools, social services, police and fire departments, incomplete early returns showed Maine voters appeared to be saying ‘no’ to Question 1, which would limit the growth of government spending at all levels.

With 27 percent of the results in at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, the Bangor Daily News showed that 54.8 percent of voters were saying ‘no,’ and 45.1 percent saying ‘yes’ to the Maine Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

In Lewiston, voters rejected Question 1, but the vote was close: 6,010 to 5,721.

Question 1 passed in Auburn: 4,773 to 3,982. TABOR also passed in Poland, Minot, Paris and Turner. It was narrowly rejected in Rumford.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” said Roy Lenardson of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, which worked for passage. “The Lewiston numbers look great. It was close,” Lenardson said. “Biddeford was 50-50. We won in Gray. We won in New Gloucester. We’re convinced it’s going to come down to the wire.”

The side that campaigned against TABOR was also optimistic.

“It looks real good,” said Dennis Bailey, spokesman for Citizens United to Protect Our Public Safety, Schools, and Communities. “Maine people do their homework. They heard both sides of this issue.”

The referendum sounded simple, “but people looked at it and decided as much as they hate taxes and want tax reform, this is not what they wanted for Maine,” Bailey said.

Early in the campaign, polls showed Question 1 enjoying wide support from taxpayers looking for tax relief. As the campaign matured and the opposition warned that passage would mean cuts to schools, health care, and police and fire protection, support withered.

Some voters said they voted ‘no’ because they were worried about cuts.

“I believe TABOR will only hurt Maine” and result in inadequate funding for education, health care and social services, said Jodie Clark after voting at the Lewiston Armory.

“My husband is a Lewiston firefighter, and I want him to keep his job,” said Doreen Traynor. “The services that the city provides are very important.”

In Mexico, Trena Magoon said she strongly opposed TABOR. “All the stuff I’ve heard about it in Colorado. I feel it will blow up in our faces.”

Rumford voter and retired school teacher John Wallace said he voted ‘no’ on Question 1 because it would put a crimp in education. “I think the elected politicians are doing the best they can.”

Other voters said they voted ‘yes’ for tax relief.

Question 1 may not be perfect, but “We need help,” said Kathy Daniels of Lewiston. Daniels said she’s over 60 and is disabled. “I’ve got the dream of America: I own my own home.” But she’s mortgaging her home “just to fix it and pay the taxes. I pay over $2,000 a year for a single-family house on a small lot.”

Roger Gagnon said he also voted ‘yes.’ “We need to have control of who spends the money. The legislature has no sense of responsibility. They think it grows on a tree.”

All interviewed Auburn voters said ‘yes.’

“For the last two years, it seems there’ve been no changes in government spending,” said Rena Farrington, 42. “Our taxes continue to go up. At home, we have to live on a budget. The state and city need to learn that.”

Kirk Smith, 46, also of Auburn, agreed. “My taxes went up so drastically, we have to do something.”