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GREENSBORO Here's how the choices on the May ballot could look for Guilford County voters: more taxes, or more taxes.

Agree with possible choices on May ballot? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

Guilford County commissioners looked at two bond projects and the potential of adding two new taxes during their annual retreat Monday.

Depending on how the board's regular meeting goes Thursday, voters may be asked to decide whether they want the county to issue bonds for a new $115 million jail, go after $457 million in school bonds, approve a quarter-cent sales tax or add a land-transfer tax.

Any one of those could appear as a referendum item May 6.

No heavy support from the board appeared to be behind either bond project Monday. But Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes said he thinks he has at least six votes from the 11-member board to get the jail bonds on the ballot.

Jail plans have been in the works for several years, and by the end of the 2008, architects expect to be ready for contractors' bids.

Commissioner Carolyn Coleman, a bit exasperated at how far the process was already, said it appears the jail will be built no matter what anyone says.

"We're basically saying to citizens that we're going to vote, but it doesn't matter how you vote, we're going to do it," Coleman said. Commissioners again debated whether the county needed a 1,000-bed jail; a smaller, less-expensive jail; or better treatment and rehabilitation options. No clear direction emerged.

As for the school bonds, the board got its first look Monday at details of the $457 million in proposed bonds from the school board .

A new $28 million Jamestown Middle School made the work list, along with four other new schools and 13 school renovations or additions.

"The school bonds, that should've come to us last fall," Chairman Kirk Perkins said toward the end of the meeting at the Piedmont Triad International Airport Authority.

But Guilford County Schools voted to send the bond request to commissioners just last week. That means commissioners must decide Thursday in their next regular meeting if they want it on the county's next ballot. Elections Director George Gilbert said a 60-day notice is required before voting periods begin for a referendum of any kind, and absentee voting begins in March.

If both bonds are approved, along with a bond request from Guilford County Technical Community College for $79.5 million , taxpayers would face a 2.92 cent property tax rate increase for the budget year that begins July 1 and a 4.88 cent rate increase the next year.

Property taxes for the owner of a $200,000 home went up about $60 in the 2007-08 budget . The owner of that same house would see that tax bill increase $58 next year and then another $97 in 2009-10 if all of those bonds passed.

As for other taxes, the board again reviewed two other taxable revenue streams: a quarter-cent sales tax and the land-transfer tax. Either could appear on upcoming ballots, though support for a sales tax seemed stronger Monday.

"I think the property owner is paying everything today," said Commissioner Mike Winstead. "I support the sales tax. If this county does not find other income, then it will be from property tax."

Contact Gerald Witt at 382-8522 or gerald.witt@news-record.com