Buncombe panel hears $536M school capital shortfall and discusses possible bond referendum

The Buncombe County School Capital Fund Commission on Thursday heard a presentation from school and county staff that county school systems currently identify roughly $536 million in immediate capital needs, a figure that could escalate to about $874 million if repairs and construction are delayed and costs rise.

The number reflects a list of projects including roofing, major renovations, front-office security reconfigurations and mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades across dozens of school sites. Commissioners and staff discussed the limits of Article 39 sales-tax revenue, the effects of using that dedicated revenue for operating expenses, and whether to pursue a countywide general obligation (GO) bond to pay for larger projects.

Why it matters: Article 39 proceeds have been a primary funding source for school capital projects, but staff said using some of those dollars for operations has reduced the fund’s ability to address long‑deferred capital needs. Commissioners discussed how a GO bond — which requires voter approval and would become part of the county’s general-fund debt picture — could free Article 39 for capital or be used together with Article 39 to tackle large priorities.

County and school staff presented multiyear revenue and debt…