Budget Cuts Threaten Staffing at Asheville City Schools

A community gathering outside Asheville City Schools with a sign indicating budget cuts.

News Summary

Asheville City Schools faces potential staffing reductions due to the proposed Buncombe County budget for 2025-26, which includes a funding cut of $226,000. Concerns have been raised about the inadequacy of funding for both Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools, as both systems may see significant staff cuts and program reductions if their requests are not met. Public hearings are scheduled, and a final vote on the budget will determine the future of staffing and educational resources.

Asheville

The Buncombe County proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 poses a significant threat to staff positions within Asheville City Schools (ACS) as outlined during the Asheville City Board of Education meeting on May 12. Schools Superintendent Maggie Fehrman expressed concerns that the county manager’s budget presentation misrepresented information regarding education funding, calling into question the viability of current and future staffing levels.

The draft budget, which became public on May 6, suggests that ACS will face a reduction of $226,000 compared to the initial 2024-25 budget. This reduction follows a $700,000 clawback earlier this year, further exacerbating the financial strain on the school system. The county manager’s budget does not recommend a property tax increase for the ACS supplemental taxing district, which the school system had requested be raised from 10.62 cents to 12 cents per $100 of taxable property value. This tax increase could potentially generate an additional $1.5 million in revenue for the schools.

In contrast, the county manager has proposed a 3.26-cent countywide property tax increase. Public input regarding the proposed budget will take place on May 20, and a final vote is scheduled for June 3. School commissioners have been encouraged to consider the funding requests from both ACS and Buncombe County Schools (BCS), with ACS seeking $21 million and only being proposed $17.3 million, while BCS requested $105 million and was proposed $95.8 million.

Concerns are growing that if needed funding is not met, significant staff cuts and program reductions could follow. Estimates indicate that BCS could face staff cuts ranging from 100 to 150 positions, paired with reductions in various educational programs. The proposed budget cuts come on the heels of a $4.7 million reduction from the previous year, attributable to damages incurred from Tropical Storm Helene.

In response to the funding challenges, educators and parents have mobilized efforts through press conferences and town hall meetings to advocate for full funding for Asheville City Schools. Board members have voiced frustrations over the perceived lack of support and collaboration from county officials regarding education funding as budget discussions continue.

In a bid to highlight the potential implications of these budget cuts on the school system, Board member Amy Ray has called for clarity from the superintendent on the potential staffing cuts to effectively communicate their impact to the county commission. As the debate around the budget unfolds, a grassroots petition orchestrated by Families for Asheville City Schools is advocating for the restoration of the ACS supplemental tax.

The situation remains fluid, with continued public hearings and discussions expected as stakeholders from the education community seek to address the financial crisis facing Asheville City Schools. The outcome of the final budget vote on June 3 will determine the trajectory for the school system, its staffing, and educational programming moving forward.