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Buncombe County Advances Fiscal and Community Resilience Initiatives
At its May 20 regular meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners discussed several fiscal, community planning, and disaster recovery efforts.
During the good news portion of the meeting, Mountain Mobility was recognized as the Transit System of the Year by the North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA) for their service during Helene, where vehicle operators performed over 12,000 miles of service. Buncombe County’s Floodplain Manager, Angela Lee, CFM, was appointed to the Executive Board of North Carolina Association of Floodplain Managers (NCAFPM), providing a valuable connection to floodplain mapping and management efforts in our area. Amy Padilla-Cortes, a member of Buncombe County Public Safety Communications (911), was awarded the 2025 Peer Team Member of the Year by the North Carolina Chapter of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) and National Emergency Number Association (NENA) for her outstanding contributions to public safety service. In a final piece of good news, Buncombe County Election Services was recognized by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) with a Clearinghouse Award for preparedness activities and community education and engagement efforts.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 2025 as Older Americans Month to honor the 78,892 older Americans in Buncombe County over the age of 60 who contribute their time, wisdom, and life experiences to our community. View the Older Americans Month proclamation here.
Personnel Ordinance Amendments
Following a public hearing, Commissioners approved a resolution amending the Personnel Ordinance while also approving the new Position Classification Policy and amended Benefits Policy. They also approved the changes regarding the applicability language in all board approved policies. The presentation can be found here.
Third Quarter Financial Update
The Board of Commissioners heard a financial update for fiscal year 2025 third quarter. Finance Director, Melissa Moore, presented a report that includes a General Fund and Solid Waste fund budget versus actual, summarizing revenue and expenditures year-to-date, current net County cost actuals, Capital Project overview, and Investment Report.
Public Hearing on FY2026 Budget Proposal
Commissioners held a public hearing on the recommended 2026 budget. The proposed budget addresses the financial challenges posed by Hurricane Helene and totals approximately $434.7 million. The budget proposal includes a 3.26-cent property tax increase, estimated to cost homeowners an additional $114 annually on a $350,000 property. The final budget adoption is scheduled for June 3.
Delegation of Authority for Reimbursement Resolutions
The Board approved a resolution to delegate authority to the County Manager and Finance Officer to approve reimbursement resolutions to better streamline the process of reimbursing capital expenditures from tax-exempt bond proceeds, cover county and school capital projects, vehicles, and equipment. This delegation authority expedites project financing while keeping the Board informed of all actions taken.
Formation of Swannanoa Small Area and Resilience Plan Steering Committee
In response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene and as part of the county's comprehensive planning efforts, the Board approved the resolution to establish a Steering Committee for the Swannanoa Small Area and Resilience Plan. The committee, comprised of between 11 and 13 members, will guide the planning process, provide insights into community needs, and assist in developing vision themes, goals, and actionable policies. Representation will span various sectors, including housing, transportation, emergency management, and sustainability. More on the Small Area Plan here.
Enhancement of Helene Household Assistance Program
To bolster ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, the Board voted to accept an additional $135,000 in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the City of Asheville. These funds are earmarked for rental assistance to households within Asheville city limits earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The interlocal agreement outlines a 10% administrative fee and mandates utilization of the funds within the city's jurisdiction, with Asheville responsible for reporting to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Learn more about CDBG-DR funds here.