With Carroll residents demanding that the county build schools, repair roads and preserve farms, two of the three county commissioners said they may have to raise taxes to afford the projects.
A tax increase wouldn't be a popular solution, Commissioner Donald I. Dell said, but it might be necessary. He broached the subject during a meeting with Carroll's eight town mayors at the County Office Building.
The county has not raised its $2.35 property tax rate since 1990 and has not increased the state piggyback tax since 1967, even though the state gave counties permission to raise the income tax several years ago.
Commissioner President Richard T. Yates said he has not considered a tax increase.
"That's his idea alone," he said of Mr. Dell's comments.
Commissioner W. Benjamin Brown said he was disturbed during the recent campaign when voters told him they didn't want higher taxes, but wanted more services.
"If we want adequate facilities, there's a cost to it, and the cost is huge," he said. "Our job is to determine where the money will come from."
Residents have been most vocal about the need for schools. Education officials have said the county needs eight new schools in the next five years at a total cost of about $81 million.
The commissioners also must pay for other projects, such as roads, bridges, Carroll Community College, parks and libraries. County departments and agencies have submitted capital budget requests totaling $72 million for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The commissioners will begin paring the capital and operating budget requests in the next few months.
Yesterday, the mayor of one of the fastest growing areas in Carroll asked the county build a third elementary school in his area as soon as possible.
"I would urge you to put this high on your priority list," Hampstead Mayor C. Clinton Becker said.
Hampstead Elementary is close to its 570-student capacity and Spring Garden Elementary has 770 students in space designed for 600 students. Meanwhile, more people continue to move to the area.
Mr. Brown promised the mayor that the commissioners would make a decision about school construction soon. "I think you're going to get a positive response on that," Mr. Brown said.
Mr. Becker said the county should pay for the school, not wait for the state to contribute its share, which could delay the project. School officials have recommended the school open in September 1998; Mr. Becker said he would like it to open in 1996 or 1997.
County Budget Director Steven D. Powell said the county cannot afford to pay for all of the new schools requested without jeopardizing its bond rating. The county's high rating with New York bond houses allows it to borrow money at a lower interest rate, he said.
Mr. Becker, a financial analyst for Bell Atlantic, asked whether the county has "the luxury" of maintaining its bond rating when the need for new schools is so pressing.
Statistics from the Board of Education show that the county's school-age population increased by about 2,500 students from 1989 to 1993.
To afford to build the schools, Mr. Powell said, the county could cut its expenses in other areas or increase its revenue.
Total county revenue from taxes, fees, federal and state money is expected expected to increase a modest 3 percent to 5 percent in the next fiscal year, he said.
Mr. Dell said he would opt to raise revenue in order to maintain the county's bond rating. It would be cheaper to raise taxes now instead of borrowing more money and paying interest on it later, he said.
He said he was not ready to say whether he would support an increase in the piggyback or property tax. The two taxes account for about 80 percent of the county's revenues.
"The needs are here, and we're going to have to face them," Mr. Dell said. "We have to face reality some time."
The county's property tax rate is $2.35 per $100 of assessed valuation. The rate was $2.23 in 1989.
The piggyback tax rate is 50 percent of the state's income tax rate. The state allows counties to charge a maximum of 60 percent.
Mr. Brown said he supports doubling the county's $2,700 impact fee, which is charged on each new residential unit. The fee now raises about $3 million per year.
Even if the fee were doubled, it would not raise enough to build one elementary school, but it would increase revenue and allow the county to borrow more money without hurting its bond
rating, he said.
Mr. Yates said he hasn't decided whether to support an impact fee increase. Mr. Dell, the only incumbent commissioner, opposed a fee increase when the previous board of commissioners considered the issue in August.
Mr. Brown said the commissioners will have to consider a tax increase if they study the budget requests and available revenues and find that the county has a deficit.
The commissioners must approve a budget for fiscal year 1996 in late May.