Asheville City Schools staff warn of multimillion‑dollar shortfall; board discusses tax and budget options

Asheville City Schools finance staff told the school board on Thursday that the district may need to draw as much as $4 million from its fund balance this year and faces a larger funding gap that could total millions more next year.

The presentation by district staff laid out enrollment and staffing trends, changes in local supplemental revenue, and projected revenue risks tied to sales tax and county appropriations. Staff and board members discussed options ranging from restoring the Asheville City supplemental tax to asking Buncombe County to levy a school tax on the district’s behalf, and asked staff to prepare more detailed materials for upcoming county conversations.

Maggie (staff member, Asheville City Schools) framed the budget review by walking board members through three years of historical budget data, enrollment and staffing ratios and the district’s staffing allotment formula. Staff presented the district’s current funded average daily membership as about 3,824 students for next year and reviewed how the state now funds districts “in arrears,” meaning next year’s state allocation will be based on this year’s early counts.

Heidi (staff member, Asheville City Schools) said the district’s preliminary…