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Staff recommends moving Asheville‑Buncombe Air Quality Agency into county permits division, warns of closure risk
Summary
Staff outlined three scenarios — maintain independent agency, transition to Buncombe County division (staff recommendation, ~$350K operating impact), or close and transfer duties to the state — and recommended transition to preserve local programs and monitoring.
County staff presented three options for the Asheville‑Buncombe Air Quality Agency during the FY2027 work session and recommended transitioning the agency into Buncombe County's permitting and inspections function to preserve local monitoring and programming.
Sam Riddle, who led the presentation, said the agency has relied on federal funding and fee revenues that have declined as local emissions improved, depleting the agency's fund balance. He explained three scenarios: maintain independent status (which could mean staff cuts or closure), transition the agency into Buncombe County (an estimated operating impact of about $350,000 depending on federal funds and fees), or close now and have core functions revert to the North Carolina Division of Air Quality.
"Therefore, we're bringing, 3 scenarios that you see here...Staff are recommending the Asheville Buncombe Air Quality Agency transition to a division of Buncombe County under the larger permits and inspections department," Riddle said, describing the benefits of continued local programming, code enforcement support, and enhanced community monitoring.
Staff said logistics are being worked out with the city as required by the existing agency agreement, retiree post‑employment benefits would transfer under some outcomes, and recertification under the new organization could be tentatively completed by July if the board gives guidance to make the change in the budget.
Commissioners expressed support for maintaining local air quality capacity. No formal decision was recorded; staff asked for guidance to include the transition in the recommended budget and noted more logistical work and certification steps remain.
