Asheville City Schools board to ask county to restore supplemental tax, present 'no cuts' budget option

The Asheville City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to ask Superintendent Dr. Maggie Fuhrman to present a budget request to Buncombe County commissioners that would restore the district supplemental property tax toward a 12¢ rate, ask the county for an additional $2.45 million and use $3 million from the district’s fund balance to help cover a projected shortfall.

The request — presented to the board as “Option 1” — was framed as a way to produce a no‑cuts operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26. Dr. Maggie Fuhrman, the district superintendent, told the board the district is facing a projected shortfall of approximately $6,910,000 driven by lower state allotments, local revenue changes, charter payments and rising employee benefit and retirement costs.

Why it matters: Fuhrman said the shortfall would require cuts that could affect staffing and services unless local revenue increases or other funding is found. The board’s chosen Option 1 asks the county to restore the supplemental tax (commonly discussed locally as the “2¢” restoration toward the historical 12¢ level), requests an extra $2.45 million from Buncombe County and proposes using $3 million of the district’s fund balance to keep school‑facing positions intact.

Fuhrman’s presentation to the board included student achievement highlights and the financial context she will show county commissioners on May 2. She told the board that Asheville City Schools’ overall student proficiency has increased in recent years, that the district outpaced…