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Asheville City Schools prepares contingency budgets after county posts updated FY26 proposal
Summary
Superintendent and CFO presented three budget scenarios the board may adopt if Buncombe County does not restore full supplemental funding. Board members were briefed on timeline, possible staffing impacts and next steps tied to county commissioners' pending vote.
Asheville City Schools leaders presented contingency budget options in advance of a county commission vote on FY26 funding, warning that reduced local support would force personnel and program tradeoffs.
Chief Financial Officer Heidi told the board that Buncombe County’s recently posted budget ordinance anticipates lower revenue than last year and proposes a higher millage rate. The county manager’s recommended budget as posted also seeks to use Article 39 recovery funds to help balance county finances; district staff cautioned that relying on those funds would delay capital projects and could require sharing funds with charter schools unless the legislature or county changes the rules.
Superintendent Maggie presented three fiscal options the district has modeled if the county does not restore the district’s previously requested supplemental allocation. Option 1 reflected the superintendent’s “no‑cuts” request (full restoration); Option 2 would remove some local supplements, shorten some administrative days and reduce school nutrition days and digital lead teacher positions while preserving core teachers where immediately necessary; Option 3 would deepen cuts, including reductions driven by allotment formulas and eliminating specified positions.
On staffing, Maggie and Heidi told members they would prioritize eliminating vacant positions and leveraging retirements where possible. Board members were reminded that formal reductions in force (RIFs) affect employed staff and carry statutory due‑process obligations; vacant positions eliminated because an employee departed before the new year do not trigger the same RIF process.
Board members and staff discussed next steps. County commissioners were scheduled to vote the following day; the superintendent said she would return with a recommended, balanced budget after the county decision. The district’s calendar calls for a possible interim approval the following week and a final local budget by June 26 if state action does not change the funding picture.
Ending: Board members asked staff to continue refining options and to bring more granular lists of retirees and vacancies before next Monday’s meeting. No formal budget action was taken at the workshop; the board awaits the county vote and additional state budget clarity.
