Education is the number one line item on Buncombe County’s recommended budget for next year, but advocates for public schools say that the proposed $121 million is not enough and would force layoffs in local schools.
At Tuesday’s meeting, County Manager Avril Pinder unrolled a proposed budget totaling $624 million, buttressed with a 3.26-cent property tax rate increase. If approved by commissioners, the annual property tax bill for a home valued at $350,000 would increase by $114.
A tax increase would help the county maintain its current government programs and services and furnish a 3% cost-of-living raise for employees – but fund little else.
“This budget must be considered in the context of the state's worst natural disaster and the resultant economic conditions,” Pinder said.
“One of our indicators, our occupancy tax is projected to be down 25% from last year and sales tax will be down as well from last year. Our property tax and collections are down this year. In addition to Helene, the national economy and uncertainty about federal funding could have significant fiscal impacts. All of these factors presented the backdrop as we developed this budget.”
Nonetheless, more than 20 education advocates – including students, parents and teachers – attended the public comment session of Tuesday’s meeting to request more funding for public schools. Last year, the county originally set aside $129 million. But in the financial fallout of Hurricane Helene, commissioners voted in January to claw back $4.7 million total from Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools as a way to balance the budget.
The county’s proposed education budget is about $20 million less than what both school systems requested. Educators expect state funding for local districts will decline due to lower student enrollment. K-12 leaders say they need the extra funds from local tax dollars to pay for salary increases required by – but not funded by – the state.
Without this funding, the schools won’t be able to maintain the same level of staffing and services, and cuts would be likely, according to Asheville City Schools Superintendent Maggie Fehrman and Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Rob Jackson.
“We need to fully fund the Asheville City and Buncombe County School Board budgets,” Joan Hoffman, a technology teacher at AC Reynolds High School and parent, said. “It is what is right in the wake of this destruction.”
Shanna Peele, a parent, added that “our students, our administration, and our staff are ready to do everything we can” to help schools recover from Helene. “We need you to be all in and do everything you can to make sure our kids don't show up in August with less than they had before the hurricane.”
Several students also spoke at public comment. Maya McDermitt, an Asheville High School student, said she is worried about a music program getting axed due to funding cuts.
“When I first came to Asheville High, I had trouble fitting in. I felt completely out of place and lost, until I walked into my strings class,” she said. “All I'm hoping for is that we keep strings alive in Asheville City Schools, because it's meaningful and inspiring to me and so many others. And I want it to impact so many more people after I'm gone.”
A common refrain from education advocates was to increase property taxes to further support school budgets. Christina Mason, a parent in the Asheville City Schools District, asked for a two-cent tax increase in the city’s district.
“I'm seeing our schools being shortchanged and witnessing the ripple effects in the classroom and in the schools because I think the commission fears public blowback for a tax hike,” she said. “But there are also costs to not acting, to underreacting and to undertaxing.”
Last year, commissioners raised property taxes by two cents, partially to grant a $4 million funding increase to schools – until that money was clawed back.
Education is the county’s single highest expenditure this year – making up more than a quarter of the budget. The county has increased funding for schools by around $24 million over the last four years – while state education allocations have fallen, and local public school enrollment has dipped by student enrollment has dropped around 5%.
Expanded school programs, including a free breakfast and lunch initiative, plus the more than 80 specialist positions funded by now-expired ESSER funding — which assist with learning loss, special education and language services — are part of why staffing needs have remained at the same level despite drops in enrollment.
North Carolina ranks at the bottom for public education funding, according to a study from the Education Law Center.
Commissioners had little to say after the budget presentation and did not indicate whether they would support an increase in education funding or a steeper property tax rate.
There will be a public hearing and an initial vote on the budget on May 20. A final vote is scheduled for June 3. According to state law, the budget must be adopted no later than July 1.
Another tidbit
- Commissioners approved a measure that will cut permit fees in half for residents rebuilding after Hurricane Helene. The discounts could save some residents hundreds of dollars and are expected to cost the county between $641,000 and $843,000 in revenue over two years.
Every first and third Tuesday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meets at 200 College Street, Room 326 in downtown Asheville beginning at 5 p.m. See the full recording and agenda of the May 6 meeting.
