Tax hike proposed to fund public safety, schools for Asheville, other county residents
ASHEVILLE - The county manager says property taxes should be hiked 5% and savings tapped in order to boost education and public safety during a less rosy financial period.
"The fiscal year 2025 budget contains many financial challenges," Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder said in her formal May 21 recommendation to commissioners of a $628 million annual spending plan that starts July 1 and would include a $442 million general fund for most core government services, such as sheriff's deputies, EMS and boosts for schools most of whose funding is from the state. General fund spending would be up just 1%, even with an $11.7 million taken from the fund balance and a property tax increase set to bring in an additional $13.6 million, with $4 million for schools and $9.6 million for county operations.
In public safety much of the funding would go to emergency services, which would see a 25% increase to $26.9 million. In education, Buncombe County Schools would get a 3.5% bump to $98.3 million.
The tax hike would increase the county tax bill for a $350,000 home by $89.25 to $1,832.25. Depending on location, property owners also pay municipal, fire fighting district or school district taxes.
Sales taxes, one of the biggest revenue sources after property taxes, have slowed to 5.5% growth in fiscal year 2023 and are only projected to grow 1.5% in the current fiscal year ending June 30. Pinder's budget estimates 2% growth in the upcoming fiscal year.
While the county manger recommended a 4.89% cost of living increase for employees, she wants to reduce operating costs by $3.9 million and said she found $10 million in savings from staff turnover and vacancies.
"Hard decisions had to be made, and austere cuts were required. We believe this budget is as fiscally responsible as possible," Pinder said.
The all-Democrat Board of Commissioners is set to hold a June 4 public hearing before that elected body takes a budget final vote, now planned for June 18. Commissioners, who have toiled for days in budget workshops with Pinder and other staff, made few comments at the May 21 presentation, though asked clarifying questions about slowing revenue.
"I think the simple way of thinking about it are there are lot of different moving parts," Board Chair Brownie Newman said.
"Specifically being a flat year for revenue," Pinder added.
Budget highlights
County spending plan proposed for fiscal year 2025 (July 1 - June 30)
$628 million - total proposed budget, up from $609 million.
$442 million - general fund, the biggest fund in the budget, up 1%. Includes many core services such as EMS, sheriff's office, parks and recreation and boosts for schools, which are otherwise state funded.
52.35 cents - proposed tax rate, up from 49.8 cents. To calculate county property taxes, divide assessed property value by $100 and multiply by the tax rate.
More: Asheville council hears $250M budget; Mayor warns 2025-26 will bring property tax increase
Asheville area luxury houses sold for up to $4 million in Q1; what taxes do they pay?
Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: County tax hike proposed to fund public safety, schools, more
