Board of Commissioners Briefing

Meeting Overview The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held its Regular Meeting on September 1, 2026, focusing on administrative approvals, public health benefits, and disaster recovery funding. The Board welcomed Madison Harms, the new Lead for the North Carolina Fellow, who will assist with planning, recovery efforts, ID bureau strategy, and library services. Three members of the public provided comments regarding property taxes, infrastructure damage, and transit staffing before the Board proceeded to review several major business items.

Key Decisions and Votes The Board approved the agenda and several items via the Consent Agenda. A motion was made and seconded to approve the 2027 health insurance plan, which includes transitioning pharmacy benefits to CVS Health and moving GLP-1 weight management drugs to the RxSaveCard program; this motion carried. The Board also authorized staff to submit two applications for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBGDR) funding, totaling approximately $24.2 million for multi-park resilience and Ferry Road infrastructure projects. Additionally, the Board authorized the County Manager to accept a $29 million Economic Development Administration grant for the Western North Carolina Futures Factory workforce training facility at AB Tech, with Commissioner Kurt recusing himself from the vote due to a potential conflict of interest. Further approvals included a budget amendment for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program management costs, the approval of $552,611 in 2026 budget carry-forwards, and various board reappointments and appointments to external councils.

Discussion Highlights Significant discussion centered on the fiscal implications of the new health plan and the details of the Futures Factory grant. Commissioner Wells noted that the county’s health plan costs approximately $40 million, emphasizing the need to monitor the fiscal impact of GLP-1 medications. Commissioner Kurt raised concerns that the credit card requirement for the new RxSaveCard program might create barriers for some community members. Regarding the Futures Factory, presenter Josh Hollingsley explained that Buncombe County acts as the construction manager and co-applicant, while AB Tech serves as the lead applicant and program operator. Commissioner Sloan inquired about the total cost of the health plan and reasons for premium increases, which staff noted are a nationwide trend. Commissioner Horton clarified that the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is voluntary for residents and that the state leads contractor selection.

Community Input Three residents spoke during public comment. Thomas Schieber urged the Board to reduce government spending, discontinue funding for grants and NGOs, and sell county property, suggesting an optional donation field on property tax bills. Jeff Fager reported that residential culverts in Swannanoa were damaged by recovery crews during Hurricane Helene rebuilding and asked for assistance, noting the county does not currently enforce code on residential culverts. Gino Perez highlighted severe driver shortages at Mountain Mobility, which have resulted in canceled trips for seniors and people with disabilities, and proposed a quarter-cent transit referendum to fund drivers for both county and city systems.

Follow-ups and Impact Staff committed to providing a breakdown of costs from the General Fund versus employee premiums for the health plan, which was not available during the meeting. Staff confirmed they are working with FEMA on funding for Owen Park and will provide updates as they become available. Regarding the Swannanoa stormwater issues, staff confirmed they have sent an inquiry to the state to determine if these issues could fall under future CDBGDR funding rounds. The County Manager was authorized to enter subsequent agreements to define roles, liabilities, and equipment ownership with AB Tech and other partners, with Commissioners requesting that any concerns be shared with staff as quickly as possible. Staff also confirmed that elevation packets for 53 properties in Buckingham County are currently in federal review, though no timeline for approval was provided. These decisions directly impact county residents by shaping healthcare access, funding for disaster recovery infrastructure, and workforce development opportunities in the region.