Transylvania commissioners face challenges at Blue Ridge Community College
By Gerard Albert III
May 14, 2025 at 12:44 PM EDT
Blue Ridge Community College urgently needs a new campus in Transylvania County to provide classes and trades programs to students in the rural area, according to a committee formed to give recommendations to county commissioners.
Now the Board of Commissioners must wrestle with choosing a location and funding the move.
The advisory committee, made up of county education officials, found that about 15,000 square feet of space was needed to make space for new classrooms, labs and office space. County commissioners identified 31 possible parcels of land that could fit the project and be near existing infrastructure.
Officials from the college preferred a site on the east side of the county, a location opposed by at least one member
“ I think that the better use of the location would be actually in the corridor between Brevard and Rosman. I think that pushing it towards the Henderson County line, that doesn't benefit Transylvania County,” Commissioner Chase McKelvey said. “If they're really serious about being in Transylvania County, we need to look at all options.”
The Transylvania County campus is just north of Brevard and near the Henderson County line. The college serves both counties between two separate campuses. The total student population is just under 2,000 with a majority of those students coming from Henderson County.
Still, enrollment has increased at the Transylvania campus and commissioners discussed ways to fund a new campus project – something that would cost upwards of $50 million without factoring in purchasing the land.
Some commissioners pushed to bring back a proposed sales tax that failed on last year’s ballot.
”I don't think people actually understood that that sales tax is not a property tax, but it could save as much as 2 cents on a property tax increase. And it. That sales tax is tax that our visitors and tourism dollars bring in and it is not a tax on groceries, food items and, and gasoline,” Commissioner Teresa McCall said.
The commissioners plan to discuss possible ways to fund the project at budget meetings later this summer. The advisory committee stressed their perceived need to move quickly.
“There is urgency to begin planning for a new campus for the community college and pursue land purchase in consultation with the Transylvania Economic Alliance so that a new location complements the needs of economic development and does not detract from them.”
Now the Board of Commissioners must wrestle with choosing a location and funding the move.
The advisory committee, made up of county education officials, found that about 15,000 square feet of space was needed to make space for new classrooms, labs and office space. County commissioners identified 31 possible parcels of land that could fit the project and be near existing infrastructure.
Officials from the college preferred a site on the east side of the county, a location opposed by at least one member
“ I think that the better use of the location would be actually in the corridor between Brevard and Rosman. I think that pushing it towards the Henderson County line, that doesn't benefit Transylvania County,” Commissioner Chase McKelvey said. “If they're really serious about being in Transylvania County, we need to look at all options.”
The Transylvania County campus is just north of Brevard and near the Henderson County line. The college serves both counties between two separate campuses. The total student population is just under 2,000 with a majority of those students coming from Henderson County.
Still, enrollment has increased at the Transylvania campus and commissioners discussed ways to fund a new campus project – something that would cost upwards of $50 million without factoring in purchasing the land.
Some commissioners pushed to bring back a proposed sales tax that failed on last year’s ballot.
”I don't think people actually understood that that sales tax is not a property tax, but it could save as much as 2 cents on a property tax increase. And it. That sales tax is tax that our visitors and tourism dollars bring in and it is not a tax on groceries, food items and, and gasoline,” Commissioner Teresa McCall said.
The commissioners plan to discuss possible ways to fund the project at budget meetings later this summer. The advisory committee stressed their perceived need to move quickly.
“There is urgency to begin planning for a new campus for the community college and pursue land purchase in consultation with the Transylvania Economic Alliance so that a new location complements the needs of economic development and does not detract from them.”