Such action would help reduce the debt, but Snook said he wasn't sure by how much.
The County Commissioners also are waiting for the results of a study, expected in the spring, that would tell them whether they need to make improvements to the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant, Snook said.
If those improvements aren't needed, the savings would help reduce future water and sewer rate increases, Snook said.
"There's going to be an increase, but hopefully we can hold it down" from the 14 percent increases suggested by the county's consultant, Commissioner R. Lee Downey said Tuesday during the County Commissioners' meeting with Sharpsburg and Keedysville officials.
Sharpsburg Town Councilman Russell Weaver asked the commissioners on Tuesday night why they hadn't requested legislative changes that would allow 50 percent of the county's gaming funds to go toward reducing the debt.
The Washington County Gaming Commission at the end of January will distribute about $693,000 from tip jar proceeds collected in the last six months, said Coordinator Kathy Sterling.
Sterling said 40 percent of that money will go to county fire departments and rescue squads, and the remaining money will be distributed among charities. The gaming commission has received 63 funding requests from charities, she said.
The commissioners would have to ask the delegation to change the gambling law if they wanted tip jar money to go toward the water and sewer debt because that would involve a gaming tax, Chris Shank said.
