From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder’s proposed  $485.1 million budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year recommends a 11 percent property tax boost, based on a proposed tax rate of 43.52 cents per $100 of assessed property value, which is 4.3 cents above the revenue-neutral rate of 39.22 cents.

For the median Buncombe County home value of $446,500, the proposed property tax increase amounts to an additional $192 per year (about $16 per month).

The spending plan includes funding for 32 new county positions, pay increases for existing employees, and $11.1 million more for K-12 education.

The budget proposal centers on balancing massive property value increases, the ongoing recovery from Tropical Storm Helene, and compounding inflation. 

The backstory and key drivers shaping the budget proposal includes:

• The "revenue-neutral" baseline: Driven by the state-mandated 2026 property revaluation, the county's tax base grew by an unprecedented 43 percent. 

• The revenue-neutral rate — which brings in the exact same amount of property tax money as the previous year — was calculated to be 39.22 cents per $100 of assessed value.

• The manager's proposal: Pinder recommended setting the tax rate at 43.52 cents per $100 of assessed value. This effectively increases the tax rate by about 4.3 cents above the revenue-neutral baseline to fund a roughly 15 percent increase in total spending.

• Community pushback: Because property values spiked, citizens — particularly seniors and fixed-income homeowners —expressed deep concern that even this fractional increase will significantly spike their tax bills, while they are already financially drained by recent storms and prolonged inflation. 

Cited as the drivers of increased spending  in the budget plan are the following:

• Tropical Storm Helene recovery: A major focal point of the recommended spending is supporting the county's ongoing rebuilding and long-term recovery efforts.

• Inflation and mandated costs: The county is grappling with a five-year inflation spike, raising the costs of supplies, contracted services, and construction. The Sheriff’s Office has also faced steep increases in jail healthcare and inmate services, pushing public safety budget requests significantly higher.

• Personnel and expansion: The budget features 32 new county positions and a 2.71 percent cost-of-living adjustment for existing county employees. 

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held public hearings throughout May, so the final adoption of the budget is scheduled for the commissioners' formal meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. June 2 in the Commission Chambers, third floor, 200 College St., Asheville, 

An individual can review all the financial documents, public hearing schedules and presentation recordings by visiting the Buncombe County Budget Management portal online at www.BuncombeNC.gov.