Buncombe County is at a crossroads as its Board of Commissioners prepares to make significant decisions on future infrastructure investments. The county is considering a substantial increase in capital project spending, potentially tripling its current expenditure to $66.1 million by the fiscal year 2031-32, a notable rise from this year’s $18.3 million allocation, according to a recent work session.
To fund the ambitious projects — ranging from repairing parking facilities to building new greenways — property taxes might need to rise by nearly 6 cents per $100 of assessed value. This translates to an 11% increase over the current rate of 54.66 cents. As a result, a homeowner with a property valued at $350,000 could see their tax bill increase by about $207, reaching approximately $2,120.
Regardless of the decisions made, a tax hike seems unavoidable for the upcoming fiscal year starting in July. The county’s already sanctioned projects and those pending approval necessitate an additional $12 million in spending, leading to a potential 2-cent increase in property tax rates.
“We are headed in an upward direction,” county budget analyst Matt Evans informed the commissioners on January 22. “We have a lot of capital that we need to pay for. And when we have deferred that capital, this is how it comes into fruition.”
Projections indicate that capital spending from Buncombe’s general fund, primarily sourced from property taxes, will surpass $30 million by fiscal 2026-27, a significant leap from the $20 million mark maintained over the last decade. John Hudson, the county’s budget director, highlighted multiple factors driving these increased costs.
A major consideration is the need to address the maintenance backlog identified in a 2021 facility study. For instance, the almost century-old courthouse is undergoing a $13.8 million plumbing overhaul and $1.1 million in elevator repairs.
Additionally, the county is beginning to utilize the $70 million in bonds approved for affordable housing and open space projects in 2022. “We’re going to front the money for design work, and then we’ll go out to debt once we’ve got shovels in the ground,” Hudson explained. “Sometimes a project may be approved for 3-5 years before we actually add it to our debt payments.”
Following Hurricane Helene, County Manager Avril Pinder has emphasized the necessity of a dedicated emergency operations center, marking it as her “number one priority” during a September Citizen Times interview. The county’s draft seven-year capital spending plan allocates $3 million for this initiative next year and $46 million in fiscal 2027-28.
The comprehensive spending plan outlines approximately $375 million in projects, with annual debt payments potentially reaching $30 million by fiscal 2032-33. However, Hudson cautioned that the plan is subject to change as priorities evolve and the commissioners provide further guidance. Notably, last year’s plan projected $160 million in projects for fiscal 2026-27, a figure that has since been revised to just over $40 million.
Responses from the county commissioners to inquiries about their capital spending strategies were limited, with only Terri Wells and board Chair Amanda Edwards providing feedback.
“Buncombe County maintains a conservative debt ratio and strong metrics within our debt policies, and each year, we weigh and balance the overall needs of our community; I am especially focused on Helene recovery and strategic goals that our community has prioritized,” Wells wrote.
Edwards affirmed her openness to tax increases to cover rising expenses. “I will advise that we look for efficiencies first, because residents are already burdened with year-over-year inflation, but I won’t balance the budget by gutting services that families rely on,” she wrote. “Some revenue increase may be necessary, and I’ll be transparent about that trade-off if it comes to that.”
Edwards also expressed support for allowing voters to decide on three new bond measures: $10 million for land conservation, up to $53 million for affordable housing, and up to $162 million for Buncombe County Schools projects. These referenda could be presented to voters in the November midterm elections, pending board approval.
The commissioners are scheduled to evaluate the county budget at a work session on Tuesday, March 24. A public hearing on the budget is set for Tuesday, May 19, with adoption expected on Tuesday, June 2.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meets every first and third Tuesday at 200 College St., Room 326, in downtown Asheville, starting at 5 p.m. The next session will occur on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Interested parties can view the full video and presentation from the January 22 budget work session.
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