Asheville City and Buncombe County schools propose $11M for capital projects

Buncombe County officials are gearing up for significant educational investments, with a proposed budget of nearly $11 million earmarked for school projects. During the recent Budget Work Session on May 2, 2025, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners discussed two recommended projects for Asheville City Schools and 15 for Buncombe County Schools, all to be funded through cash rather than debt.

The meeting highlighted the importance of aligning school capital funding with the county's budget ordinance, ensuring that the School Capital Fund Commission can approve these projects efficiently. The county currently has 91 existing projects in the School Capital Fund, with 17 linked to Asheville City Schools and 74 to Buncombe County Schools, at various stages of completion.

In addition to the funding discussions, the board reviewed a peer comparison of educational expenditures, revealing that Buncombe County ranks highly among its peers in funding for K-12 education. However, officials noted that the figures could be misleading due to the unique taxing district for Asheville City Schools, which skews the overall data.

The meeting also addressed the Public School Forum of North Carolina's annual finance study, which raised questions about Buncombe County's actual tax base and revenue generation. The study suggested that Buncombe's effective tax rate was overstated, leading to a significant discrepancy in reported revenues compared to actual figures.

As the board prepares to finalize the budget, these discussions underscore the county's commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure while navigating complex financial assessments. The next steps will involve further discussions and approvals in upcoming meetings, with the aim of ensuring that Buncombe County schools receive the necessary support for their projects.