CHRISTIANSBURG -- The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors didn't reach a decision Monday night regarding the county school board's proposal to spend $124.6 million on its buildings.

That decision may take weeks because the board is divided, board Chairwoman Annette Perkins said.

The school board has asked county supervisors to approve building a new Auburn High School for $44.6 million, renovating the current high school to Auburn Middle School for $22.5 million, and constructing a new $57.5 million Blacksburg High School.

The supervisors will not vote on the plan until they learn about all of their financing options, many said at the meeting with the school board Monday night.

Engineers may need to complete more structural assessments of Blacksburg High School, where the school gym roof collapsed in February, school board members said.

"There's no way that we're going to reach a consensus, because this has turned into a tax issue, it's turned into a repair issue, it's turned into a school issue," Perkins said at the three-hour discussion at Christiansburg Middle School. "We know that both of the communities are needy."

Related

Ongoing coverage

• Complete coverage of the Blacksburg High School gym collapse, including an interactive look at the collapse, photo galleries and more

Interactive graphic

• Explore detailed photos of the Blacksburg gym collapse

The county could seek low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural development program for Auburn or from federal and state governments' stimulus allotments, County Administrator Craig Meadows said.

County officials said they will meet with USDA rural development representatives on Wednesday.

If these funds aren't available, then the county would need to issue a $110 million bond and raise property taxes by 12.5 cents per $100 assessed value to accommodate the school board's request. That would be a 17 percent tax increase, or an additional $225 a year for the owner of a $180,000 home.

Before they vote on a tax increase, supervisors must hold a public hearing, which will likely take place at their Sept. 13, Sept. 27 or later board meetings.

Supervisors John Muffo of Blacksburg and Gary Creed of Shawsville reaffirmed their positions that the county shouldn't borrow money to build a new Blacksburg High School because it would stretch the county's finances and make it difficult to fund operating needs. Borrowing again in the next 10 years could hurt the county's bond rating.

Most supervisors and school board members agreed that Riner residents, who attend Auburn schools, need the improvements badly. Auburn High School is the second-oldest school in use in the county, and the school board had said before the Blacksburg High School gymnasium collapse that it should be replaced next.

"I think we are doomed to failure to let the money drive our response," Perkins said. "I really think that doing something in both communities is doable."

Supervisor Mary Biggs of Blacksburg said she wouldn't feel comfortable renovating Blacksburg High School without talking with more engineers and making sure the school will be safe.

The school officials' fall-back option is to renovate Blacksburg High School and address plans to rebuild Auburn High School afterward. Solely renovating Blacksburg High School and rebuilding its destroyed gym would cost $14.5 million and be paid with insurance recompense and leftover funds from past bonds.

Financial advisers had estimated that insurance coverage would provide $5 million to the county, but schools Superintendent Brenda Blackburn estimated insurance would pay $3.5 million.