ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County commissioners held a third work session on the fiscal year 2026 budget May 2, focusing on fire district tax rates and public education funding. The session, led by Budget Director John Hudson, is part of the county’s months-long budget process, which is scheduled to conclude with adoption on June 3.

Fire district tax rates and public safety

Commissioners reviewed proposed tax rate changes for the county’s 20 fire districts. Six districts requested increases for FY2026:

  • Enka-Candler: 1.5-cent increase to 13.5 cents, generating about $488,000.
  • Reynolds: 1.87-cent increase to 13.11 cents, generating more than $190,000.
  • Swannanoa: 1-cent increase to 15 cents, generating about $132,715.
  • Upper Hominy: 1.6-cent increase to 20.6 cents, generating about $95,917.
  • West Buncombe: 1.5-cent increase to 15 cents, generating more than $300,000.
  • French Broad Fire District revised its initial request, reducing its proposed increase from 1 cent to a half-cent, setting its new rate at 22.7 cents.

Officials said the rate adjustments would help maintain emergency response services and reflect collaboration between fire departments and county leadership to balance needs with fiscal constraints.

Education funding and capital projects

The School Capital Fund Commission presented a five-year funding history and outlined criteria for project prioritization. For FY2026, about $11 million is slated for 17 capital projects, pending board approval. Funding is primarily from Article 39 sales tax revenue.

Projects must:

  • Cost more than $100,000
  • Address safety or health concerns
  • Comply with legal requirements
  • Maintain the lowest life-cycle cost
  • Improve the educational environment

A broader discussion emphasized the county’s responsibility under North Carolina law to fund school operations and infrastructure. The proposed FY2026 education budget is approximately $121.5 million, the largest share of county spending.

School and college budget requests

Asheville City Schools, Buncombe County Schools and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College presented their funding needs.

A-B Tech requested $8.4 million for FY2026, down from $8.7 million in FY2025. Its Article 46 sales tax funding remains capped at $5 million.

Asheville City Schools requested a 1.38-cent increase in its supplemental tax rate to raise about $1.5 million, along with a $2.41 million increase in local funding.

Buncombe County Schools requested $105.9 million, an increase of $10.3 million over last year.

Budget adjustments and next steps

Recent adjustments added $2.4 million in projected revenue from investment earnings, permits and taxes. However, $4.6 million in discretionary community investments were cut to reduce a projected $16.8 million budget gap. Programs affected include Strategic Partnership and Tipping Point grants, Affordable Housing Services and reparations funding.

The revised budget proposal now totals $434.7 million, with education, public safety and human services accounting for the bulk of spending.

Key upcoming dates:

  • May 6: County manager’s recommended budget released
  • May 20: Public hearing
  • June 3: Budget adoption