News Summary
Buncombe County’s proposed budget has sparked worries over public school funding as local educators express concerns about insufficient allocations. The budget proposal includes nearly $122 million for education, but local school districts are facing proposed cuts compared to their funding requests. Advocacy groups are calling for full funding and community meetings are planned to discuss the implications of these budget constraints on essential educational programs.
Buncombe County Proposed Budget Sparks Concerns Over Public School Funding
Buncombe County commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget on Tuesday, May 20, with concerns mounting over public school funding. County Manager Avril Pinder’s budget proposal allocates nearly $122 million for education, comprising 28% of the total budget. However, the proposed amounts for local school districts fall short of their requests, raising alarms among educators and administrators.
Asheville City Schools (ACS) requested $21 million in funding but is set to receive only $17.3 million under the current proposal. Similarly, Buncombe County Schools (BCS) sought $105 million but would receive $95.8 million. The implications of these reductions could lead to significant staffing or program cuts, as indicated by district officials.
Advocacy for Full Funding
The Asheville City Association of Educators (ACAE) and the Buncombe County Association of Educators (BCAE) are actively advocating for the full funding of the school districts’ budgets. ACAE is calling for the reinstatement of the ACS special tax, which would help meet the financial shortfall. The situation is particularly critical following the impacts of Hurricane Helene, with educators emphasizing the necessity for the commissioners’ support to ensure proper resources are available for students.
The upcoming Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting, scheduled for May 20 at 5 p.m., will allow for public comments regarding the budget proposal. The Asheville City Board of Education has already voiced apprehensions that the proposed budget could lead to staff layoffs, with estimates suggesting that up to 150 positions might be at risk within the school system.
Budget Details and Concerns
Superintendent Maggie Fehrman has pointed out that the budget’s comparison to previous years is misleading, highlighting a reduction in funding compared to the initial budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Additionally, Pinder did not recommend a requested property tax increase for the ACS supplemental taxing district, which is considered essential for generating additional revenue for schools. ACS had proposed raising the property tax rate from 10.62 cents to 12 cents per $100 of property value to help mitigate budget deficits.
In contrast, Pinder has suggested a countywide property tax increase of 3.26 cents, which will result in higher costs for property owners. The budget constraints have raised significant concerns regarding potential cuts to essential programs, particularly in arts education, such as the orchestra department.
Community Engagement and Next Steps
To address community concerns and foster discussions about the budget, both Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools plan to host town hall meetings. These forums aim to highlight the critical need for additional budget support and engage the community in dialogues regarding local education funding.
A public hearing on the proposed budget will take place on May 20, allowing residents to voice their opinions. A vote on the budget is scheduled for June 3, marking a decisive moment for local schools and their funding futures. As the process unfolds, the focus remains on the necessity for adequate educational funding to ensure the continued support of students and educators in the Buncombe County area.
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Additional Resources
- WLOS: Buncombe County Proposed 2026 Budget Hearing
- Mountain X: Asheville School Board Frustrated Over Proposed Budget
- WLOS: Latest County Budget Proposal Jeopardizes School Programs
- Mountain X: County Commissioners Present Possible Tax Increase
- Wikipedia: Education in North Carolina
