Special Meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners | July 14, 2026

Meeting Overview On July 14, 2026, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held a Special Meeting to address the immediate fiscal impacts of recent state legislation, specifically Senate Bill 889 and Senate Bill 474. The primary focus of the session was amending the Fiscal Year 2027 budget in response to legislative mandates that delay the use of 2026 property reappraisal values until January 1, 2027, and impose specific revenue-neutral rate requirements. Staff presented two options for budget adjustment: maintaining prior 2021 property values (Option 1) or using new 2026 values with a reduced tax rate (Option 2). Both options resulted in a projected $24.8 million reduction in revenue, requiring significant budgetary adjustments to maintain balance.

Key Decisions and Votes The Board unanimously voted to adopt an amended Fiscal Year 2027 budget utilizing prior (2021) property values, effectively choosing Option 1. This decision established the following tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year: 61.54 cents per $100 of assessed value for Buncombe County, 17.38 cents for the Unified Fire District, and 11.75 cents for Asheville City Schools. Following the budget vote, the Board also unanimously voted to enter closed session to consult with legal counsel regarding an ongoing lawsuit, Buncombe County v. HCA Management Services, LLP et al. (Case No. 1:24 CV 227). No formal action was anticipated to result from the closed session.

Discussion Highlights Commissioners expressed strong frustration with the North Carolina General Assembly’s handling of the legislation, arguing that state lawmakers ignored Buncombe County’s specific needs, particularly those related to natural disaster recovery from Hurricane Helene. Commissioner Marty Benson criticized the Republican-controlled legislature for singling out Buncombe County residents, while Commissioner Drew Ball noted the legislation was released at the "11th hour," leaving the county with insufficient time to assess the financial blow. Other commissioners echoed these sentiments, with one noting that state politicians appeared to prioritize partisan interests over the functionality of local government. The Chair emphasized that the budget amendment was a necessary response to the state’s failure to exempt Buncombe County from the new laws, which also delays the fair evaluation of luxury homes.

Community Input and Public Comment The Chair opened the floor for public comment, reminding residents of the three-minute time limit and rules of decorum. However, no specific public comments or testimony were recorded in the meeting transcript beyond this procedural opening. Consequently, there were no direct responses from the Board to community members during this segment of the meeting.

Follow-ups and Impact Commissioner (Speaker 8) noted that a new General Assistance Program (GAP) has been funded to assist residents experiencing temporary financial hardship with essential expenses such as housing and utility bills, and applications for this program are already open. No other specific follow-up actions or staff directives were explicitly agreed upon during the meeting. The decision to revert to 2021 property values means that Buncombe County residents will not see the tax adjustments associated with the 2026 reappraisal this fiscal year. This action was taken to comply with state law while attempting to preserve funding for essential services, including law enforcement, emergency services, and seven newly created staff positions aimed at addressing long-standing departmental shortages.