How much is too much? That's the issue in Montgomery County.
On Monday night, the Board of Supervisors met with the school board to discuss a $124 million plan. This plan calls for a new Blacksburg High, Auburn High and to renovate a building for Auburn Middle.
It amounts to a 12.5 cent increase in property taxes. That means on a $200,000 property, taxes would go up an additional $260 a year.
The joint meeting began with a 40 minute dinner break. Then the school board and the Board of Supervisors discussed the mammoth plan for about three hours.
"You need to take a real good look at what we're doing, what we're buying and what you're spending your money on," says Supervisor Gary Creed.
Their biggest concern was cost.
"We're being asked to increase our debt by 75% at a point where we already got -by our standards - a huge percentage of open positions and we're looking at layoffs," says Supervisor John Muffo.
The Montgomery County Administrator says about 15 workers could be laid off by the end of this year. A sign of the struggling economy which the Board of Supervisors has heard a lot about from residents. The same residents fearful of a property tax increase.
"I just can't in my own mind put 12 pennies on some of the people that I know," says Supervisor Bill Brown, "Some of those people, elderly people crying when they talk to you: 'Mr Brown, what am I gonna do?'"
The Board of Supervisors wants a meeting with engineers to find out if Blacksburg High school can be safely repaired after February's roof collapse.
A much cheaper option than the $124 million package.
