Asheville City Schools Face Budget Cuts and Potential Layoffs

Empty classroom representing budget cuts in Asheville City Schools

News Summary

Asheville City Schools are confronting staff layoffs due to proposed budget cuts discussed in the Buncombe County budget. The draft budget reveals a projected funding reduction, attributed to a clawback from Tropical Storm Helene. As discussions continue, community members are advocating for full funding of schools without service cuts or layoffs. Further budget hearings are scheduled, with concerns rising over how staffing changes may impact educational programs and services in the district.

Asheville – Asheville City Schools (ACS) are facing potential staff layoffs due to budget cuts proposed in the 2025-26 Buncombe County budget discussed during the Asheville City Board of Education meeting on May 12. Schools Superintendent Maggie Fehrman raised concerns about the budget’s portrayal of education funding, emphasizing that county managers have unfairly targeted the school district amidst broader fiscal challenges.

The draft budget, released on May 6, indicates a projected funding reduction of $226,000 for ACS compared to initial allocations in the 2024-25 budget. This decline is attributed to a $700,000 clawback stemming from Tropical Storm Helene’s negative impact on county revenues. Additionally, the county manager, Avril Pinder, did not recommend an increase in the property tax rate for ACS’s supplemental taxing district, which the school district sought to raise from 10.62 cents to 12 cents per $100 of taxable property value.

Fehrman noted that a requested 13% increase in property tax could generate $1.5 million for ACS, marking an unexpected limitation on funding options. The budget discussions come as property owners face a proposed increase of 3.26 cents in countywide property taxes. This proposed tax rise would result in approximately $130.40 in additional annual costs for homeowners with properties valued around $400,000.

During the meeting, board member Pepi Acebo suggested pitching the need for additional supplemental tax funds to county commissioners, highlighting that such funding could enhance early childhood education and address achievement gaps in the district. However, Board Chair Sarah Thornburg expressed her discomfort with guaranteeing how extra funds would be allocated due to a looming deficit of $3.9 million, indicative of a lack of collaboration from county officials.

Concerns about staffing cuts were raised by Board member Amy Ray, who pressed Fehrman to clarify which positions may be reduced. The potential cuts could affect up to 150 personnel across the district. Current funding levels might threaten essential programs, including reading groups and various arts departments, which have drawn worries from both educators and students.

A public hearing regarding the budget will take place on May 20, with a vote on the budget planned for June 3. Community members are voicing their fears that these budget cuts could severely impact needed school services and staffing levels. Parents and educators alike are advocating for full funding of school programs without layoffs or reductions in services.

In the context of these budget discussions, ACS is requesting $21 million in funding, while the proposed budget allocates only $17.3 million. In contrast, Buncombe County Schools (BCS) requests $105 million, with a recommended allocation of $95.8 million.

As discussions continue, some members of the board remain hopeful that county commissioners will better understand the implications of the stringent budget constraints on the school district. In response to these challenges, a petition has begun circulating within the community to gather support for fully funding schools without staff and service cuts.

The situation presents a critical juncture for Asheville City Schools as they confront potential staffing changes that could alter the educational landscape within the district. The outcome of budget discussions in the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining the future of school funding and staffing.