Ashe County presents $55.6 million FY25‑26 budget, approves grants and several contracts

County staff presented the Ashe County Board of Commissioners with a proposed fiscal year 2025‑26 general fund budget of $55,585,040 and recommended maintaining the current tax rate of 44¢ per $100 assessed value.

Adam (county staff) read the budget message on May 20 and said the proposal was prepared in accordance with North Carolina statutes. The presentation said the county faces major hurricane‑related expenses and an ongoing $8 million debris contract tied to recovery operations. Highlights in the message included a $96 million middle school project supported by state grants and local financing, landfill expansion planning, replacement of the Environmental Services building and pay‑and‑classification adjustments intended to improve recruitment and retention.

Commissioners and staff also considered and approved a series of contracts, grants and budget amendments during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Reappointment: The board reappointed Chris (name in packet) as the tax administrator/collector; motion seconded and approved. (Motion recorded; mover/second not specified in the transcript excerpt.) - ABC funds: Commissioners approved an allocation of approximately $2,298.18 from ABC funds to send three school resource officers to training; staff to return with written budget amendments. - Animal Control donation appropriation: The board approved increasing the Department of Animal Control appropriation from $452,489 to $456,689, a $4,200 increase funded by prior‑year donation funds in the general fund. - Veterans grant: The board accepted a grant for veterans programming; meeting motion recorded as accepting a grant amount of $73,150 with no required match. - Audit contract: The board approved an engagement for the year ending 6/30/2025 with a total audit contract of $56,800; the annual financial information report billed separately. The contract will require work to address new GASB pronouncements on compensated absences. - Mowing and cleaning contracts: Commissioners approved renewing existing mowing and cleaning contracts at existing prices with the current contractors. - Environmental Services building design: Commissioners approved entering a design contract with Benoit (the only respondent to the RFQ) for architectural/engineering work and site investigation; the design fee was reported at approximately $295,625 (document also referenced $301,000 as a nearby figure), with additional contingencies for surveying and borings and construction administration fees to be budgeted in FY25‑26 if the project moves forward. - Generations of Ash allocation: The board approved a friendly amendment and motion to increase the Department of Human Services appropriation from $1,859,475 to $2,084,475, a $225,000 one‑time supplemental allocation to Generations of Ash. The allocation was made from unencumbered general‑fund funds and is contingent on an executed agreement and repayment language to be finalized by county counsel and staff. - Proclamation: The board adopted a proclamation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Friends of the Ash County Public Library.

County staff said more detailed budget workbooks would be available and a week‑long deep dive into the budget was scheduled. The commissioners thanked staff for keeping the tax rate unchanged in a budget year disrupted by Hurricane Hilleen’s (referred to in the presentation) widespread damage.

Provenance: numerous agenda items and motions were presented during the regular meeting; the budget message was read aloud and multiple motions were made and seconded on the actions listed above.