Finance staff presents local funding formula proposal that would tie county contributions to prior‑year receipts

District finance staff presented a proposal to move local current‑expense funding to a percentage‑based formula tied to prior‑year actual receipts of county property and sales tax rather than to projected revenue. Tina Thorpe told the board the combined county allocation for local current expense between the district and Asheville City Schools would be about $119 million using the most recent 12‑month actuals, and that Buncombe’s share (based on ADM) would be roughly 85.03 percent—about $101 million in the model.

Thorpe described the model as designed for predictability and year‑over‑year growth, and said it would not include restricted capital funds. She said the proposal includes an emergency clause so boards could request additional funding if state or federal funding were reduced. Staff cited Onslow County as a longstanding example of a local funding formula that has operated since the early 2000s, and described joint work with county finance and Asheville City finance on the proposal’s structure.

Board members asked about the length of the agreement, reevaluation and oversight; Thorpe said the proposal would start with a three‑year initial term with an evaluation in December of the third year and annual confirmations each December. Members also raised financial‑risk concerns and emphasized that any change would require approval by all three partners (county commissioners, Asheville City Schools, and Buncombe County Schools).

The item was informational and required no board action that evening; board members said they would continue deliberations in upcoming meetings.