"Overcrowding is a problem. The maintenance in our schools are also something that's lacking and far behind. We need to be spending about $20 million a year to make sure we get the buildings to last as long instead of as they were designed for,” says Shaun Carey, Public Schools Overcrowding and Repair Needs Committee.
$20 million a year for repairs on existing campuses almost eats away entirely at the existing $315 million in bond rollovers for the next 10 years, according to the committee.
So the committee says an additional $781 million in new revenue is necessary to build new schools to solve the overcrowding issue too.
If the sales tax rises, it could be the highest in the state.
The chairman says it be up to $8 a month per family.
"A modest investment of $8 a month will make sure our schools are properly maintained."
And he says a rise in property taxes would equate to $10 a month per family.
However, the committee says they're trying to find a balance between higher sales and property taxes.
"A sales tax that works in our economy when compared to the five counties that surround us and the rest of the state and also does as little as necessary in the property tax area because that's one which is a heavy burden."
A public hearing will be held up on February 12th to hear what the community has to say about the two options before the committee picks one for the ballot question.
