* $35,000 for a culvert on Broadfording Road.
The commissioners informally agreed to change the financing on two projects. They agreed to seek Program Open Space funds to pay for the Hancock gym and the amphitheater seating.
That would reduce the borrowing by about $252,500 for fiscal year 2000, but it would be more than $1.7 million above the $10 million cap the commissioners set for themselves.
"I'm a little bit concerned about the borrowing, obviously," Wivell said.
In an interview, Wivell said he has not decided whether he will vote against the capital budget in May.
Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook suggested the financing change for the Hancock and amphitheater projects.
To pay for the changes, Snook proposed several revisions in the county's plans for Program Open Space money, which comes from a state grant.
He would use leftover money from last year and would eliminate $20,000 for exterior lighting to the Washington County Agricultural Education Center and $135,000 to develop North County Park.
Wivell questioned the need for some of the projects and suggested paying for others out of the general fund.
He said the Clear Spring library, for example, should be paid for out of the general fund.
Commissioner Bert L. Iseminger Jr. said the commissioners can remove the project at a later date. "The least we can do is plan for it," he said.
But Wivell said the borrowing increases the county's debt. "We're borrowing money to borrow money," he said.
Iseminger argued that borrowing money for the library would only cost $45,000 a year in debt payments.
Wivell said any borrowing increases the county's fixed costs and decreases money available for public safety, education and other discretionary spending.
"When you continually borrow money, you're indebting this county to additional funding that we don't have," he said.
The commissioners decided they probably cannot meet the Washington County Board of Education's request to borrow $5 million a year for the next five years.
The commissioners have budgeted almost $2.6 million in capital funds for schools for fiscal year 2000.
Snook suggested the commissioners could increase the figure to $3.5 million in fiscal year 2001. Other commissioners said they wanted a more detailed spending plan from school officials.
The commissioners will consider the budget again on Thursday and will hold a public hearing on April 27. They could vote on the spending plan May. 4.
