ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, May 6, approved a program to reduce some permitting fees for residents repairing damage from Tropical Storm Helene. Commissioners also recognized the county’s public health nurses and proclaimed Air Quality Awareness Week.

Permit fee cuts to aid Helene recovery

Commissioners approved the Reduce to Rebuild program, which will cut certain planning and inspection permit fees by 50 percent through Dec. 21, 2025, for residential structures damaged by the storm. First introduced at the board’s April 1 briefing, the program aims to ease the financial burden on residents rebuilding primary homes impacted by Helene.

The fee reductions will lower project costs from the current range of $305 to $1,890 to between $152 and $945. County staff estimate the program could reduce revenue by about $641,000 to $843,000 over two fiscal years.

Commissioners recognize nurses and air quality

The board also proclaimed May 6-12 as National Nurses Week in Buncombe County, honoring the dedication of the county’s public health nurses. The team, which includes clinic nurses, care coordinators, Nurse-Family Partnership staff, communicable disease nurses, mobile team members and quality assurance personnel, was praised for its commitment to compassion and public service.

In addition, commissioners declared May 5-9 as Buncombe County Air Quality Awareness Week. The proclamation supports the county’s strategic vision of ensuring clean air, water and renewable energy for future generations. Buncombe County has set goals of reaching 100 percent renewable energy for government operations by 2030 and for the entire community by 2042. Residents are encouraged to help improve air quality by reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency at home and work.

The board also:

  • Approved the FY25 contract with the county’s external auditor Mauldin & Jenkins, with revised pricing that recognizes the county’s ongoing recovery efforts.
  • Heard an annual report from Asheville Regional Airport.
  • Approved ordinances that closed capital projects, special projects and grants across seven multi-year funds.
  • Approved an amendment to increase the budget expenditure for projected health claims by $3 million. Offsetting revenues are available thanks to unbudgeted stop loss credits projected to be around $1 million and rebates already $1 million more than budget with more to come.
  • Approved a budget amendment for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office appropriating $740,460 of fund balance in the Inmate Commissary and Welfare Fund to pay $507,732 in medical care for Buncombe County inmates being housed at other locations and $232,728 for excess outside medical care for local inmates.
  • Approved an amendment that increases the current $29 million budget of the Helene grant project by an additional $8,449,311 to accommodate expenditures to include insurance claims, cost of replacement of insured property included in the FEMA Damage Inventory, contracting costs for Tetra Tech and address budget capacity for future permanent work.

The next regular meeting will be May 20 and will include a public hearing for Buncombe County’s FY26 budget.