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City presents FY26 budget priorities; public urges climate action, living wages and transit investments
Summary
City budget staff previewed FY26 priorities and recovery spending options; public commenters urged the city to use CDBG‑DR funds and other resources to accelerate renewable energy, grid resilience, living wages and improved public transit in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.
City budget staff on Feb. 25 gave an early preview of the FY26 budget process and recovery priorities, and dozens of members of the public used the session to press council for climate and social‑service investments.
Lindsey Spangler, budget and performance manager, said the city’s revenue mix is dominated by property taxes (about 48%) and that personnel costs represent roughly 64% of expenditures. Spangler described the FY26 outlook as constrained by storm recovery needs and noted one major resource: approximately $225 million in Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funding to support recovery priorities related to Tropical Storm Helene. Staff outlined the budget calendar, opportunities for public input, and plans for council work sessions before the manager’s proposed budget in May.
Public commenters focused on climate mitigation and resilience, affordable‑housing policy and living wages, and transportation. Speakers from advocacy groups urged council to restore or fund regional climate coordination (Blue Horizons or similar), to use recovery funds to accelerate renewable energy, community‑scale solar with battery storage, building electrification and weatherization programs targeted at low‑income households, and to fund staffing to implement climate justice initiatives. Timber (Sunrise Movement Western North Carolina) called for prioritizing electrification, grid resiliency, community solar microgrids and funding to implement the Blue Horizons plan. Others urged that recovery funds require energy‑efficient, electrified new housing and that retrofit programs be made free for low‑ and middle‑income households.
Speakers also urged living‑wage increases and better public transit. Jen Hampton of Just Economics noted the local living‑wage benchmark of $23.15 per hour for Buncombe County and urged that city wages and starting pay not leave workers unable to afford housing in the city. Several commenters asked for more frequent bus service on South Asheville routes and the 170 route through East Asheville and Swannanoa (identified as areas hit hard by Helene), arguing that improved transit would reduce vehicle miles traveled and support equitable recovery.
Other public remarks addressed immigrant‑rights concerns tied to federal legislation, neighborhood impacts of development, invasive species and stream cleanup, and direct observations about local economic impacts to downtown businesses following Helene and broader tourism declines.
City staff reiterated that the manager’s proposed budget will include recommended allocations and that the public and council will have additional formal opportunities to provide input before adoption in June.
