Committee coalesces around outreach, exemptions and revenue ideas to address assessment equity

Members of the Buncombe County property reappraisal committee used the May 18 meeting’s second half to convert concerns about data and equity into preliminary recommendations for commissioners.

Why it matters: committee recommendations will guide whether Buncombe County changes outreach, staffing and program priorities tied to the current reappraisal and future assessment cycles. Several proposals would require new county budget authority or state-level policy changes.

What the committee proposed

Outreach and education — Committee members recommended increased public education about the reappraisal process using social media, faith-based and nonprofit partners, and a dedicated community liaison. The liaison would be a paid position that explains assessments to homeowners, coordinates with community groups and helps non-English or internet-limited residents access appeal/help programs.

Expanded exemptions and homeowner assistance — Members proposed raising limits on existing homestead or relief exemptions and creating targeted homeowner-assistance funding for low- and moderate-income households, seniors and people with disabilities. Several committee members suggested using grants or county funds to underwrite repair or tax-relief programs.

Short-term rentals and revenue strategy — The committee discussed treating short-term rentals (STRs; e.g., Airbnb) more like businesses for tax purposes and using a portion of any new STR revenue to fund homeowner-assistance programs. Members suggested progressive treatment for owners with many STR listings so the burden is not uniform.

Data and enforcement measures — To reduce the large share of sales that required post-sale corrections, the panel suggested ramping up permit enforcement and permitting data matching (MLS and aerial-change detection) and adding staff capacity in the appraisal office to perform more frequent updates and audits. Several members cited a pilot postcard outreach that yielded a small response and urged scaled outreach.

Budget and implementation considerations

Committee members acknowledged trade-offs: hiring staff and starting assistance programs requires funding. Several members recommended the county evaluate reallocating existing revenue, pairing STR or lodging tax revenue with homeowner assistance, and supporting state-level lobbying where statute limits local options (for example, rules distinguishing second homes from primary residences seem state-governed).

Next steps

The committee asked staff to package the recommendations into a written list and a short presentation for the county commissioners. That package should include proposed staffing levels, estimated budget implications, and regulatory or statutory changes that would require additional advocacy. The committee scheduled a follow-up on June 1 to finalize recommendations and prepare materials for the commission.

Ending

Committee member Rachel summarized the day’s work as advancing equity-focused options and asked members to return on June 1 ready to prioritize final actions for the commissioners.