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Asheville City Schools Face Budget Cuts Amid Financial Strain

Families rallying for school funding in Asheville

News Summary

Asheville City Schools is at risk of $4 million in budget cuts, following proposed reductions from Buncombe County. With educational expenses rising, ACS aims to mitigate impacts through a campaign for tax restoration to boost funding. Community engagement is encouraged as decisions on cuts loom.

Asheville – Asheville City Schools (ACS) is facing potential budget cuts as county officials indicate funding from the Buncombe County budget may not meet the requested levels. The risks of reductions come after the ACS Board of Education approved a “no-cuts” budget of $21.8 million in April, which was presented to the county commission by Superintendent Dr. Maggie Fehrman in May. Without full funding from the county, ACS could fall short by almost $4 million to maintain this budget.

The local budget for schools in North Carolina is determined by county commissioners, who must consider anticipated state and federal allocations alongside local revenues. The Buncombe County Budget Department has proposed $17 million for ACS to the commission. However, County Budget Director John Hudson has communicated that the county is unable to plan for uncertain revenues and cannot accommodate all budget shortfalls.

In response to rising educational expenses, specifically in teacher salaries and benefits, ACS is planning to draw $3 million from its fund balance. Despite these efforts, the district is still at risk of significant program and personnel cuts if the required funding is not restored. Essential programs, including those focused on music and arts, could see reductions, further impacting students and educators alike.

The situation has prompted ACS to unveil the “Need Our Two Cents” campaign aimed at advocating for restoration of the supplemental tax rate to 12 cents, which would potentially generate an additional $1.5-$1.7 million for the district. Without this restoration, the school district is bracing for considerable cutbacks that could affect various departments, particularly central offices.

Previous budget limitations have already forced ACS to eliminate 11 positions last year and reduce non-personnel budgets between 10-15%. The county commission voted to cut nearly $4.7 million from the school budget, resulting in approximately $718,577 in reductions specifically for ACS. This mid-year budget cut of 4% has translated to a significant 10.4% reduction for the concluding five months of the fiscal year.

Decisions regarding potential cuts are expected by late June, with the final budget set for adoption on June 3. Community engagement is being encouraged, and a public hearing is scheduled for May 20 to solicit input on the budget proposal. Numerous educators and students have voiced concerns over how these budget cuts may impact their education and overall learning environment during recent meetings.

Buncombe County is currently experiencing financial strain due to projected revenue losses ranging between $15-25 million, which has led to various cost-cutting measures. The county is in a hiring freeze, allowing for new hires only for essential roles, and has started using reserves—a practice not seen in over 20 years—to address fiscal challenges. Federal funds designated for disaster relief sit awaiting legislative approval, with hope that such funds will eventually support local school budgets when the legislature votes on allocations for local governments.

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners is committed to restoring school funding, contingent upon the eventual availability of federal disaster relief funds. As the situation continues to develop, the Asheville City Schools system remains focused on preserving the quality of education amid the financial uncertainties.