Asheville council schedules public hearing on proposed FY 2025–26 budget, finance staff details compensation costs

The Asheville City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget during its May 27 business meeting, City Manager Deborah Campbell and finance staff confirmed at the council's May 22 agenda briefing.

The hearing is the next-to-last formal step in the budget process; council members were told staff will return to the council on June 10 to seek final approval of the budget.

Tony, finance staff, told council the total cost for next year's police compensation adjustments is about $1,100,000 and that fire adjustments total a little over $800,000. The fire figure includes $205,000 for fourth-shift promotions and the 3% general salary adjustments, Tony said. "The amount included for the fourth shift promotions, which is 205,000, we've shared that number with you all before," Tony said. Deborah Campbell said staff will follow up after the public meeting if additional concerns arise so council can be prepared for action in June.

Staff reminded council that any nonprofits that require separate votes to be included in the budget must be identified before adoption; City Attorney Brad Branham and finance staff offered to help council members sort through those items. Campbell said a brief presentation will precede the public hearing at the May 27 meeting to recap the process to date.

What happens next: the council will hold the public hearing on May 27 and, barring new issues, will consider final approval at its June 10 meeting. Staff said they will follow up with council after the hearing to surface any late concerns.