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Asheville council adopts annual fees-and-charges changes including water, stormwater and solid-waste increases
Summary
Council adopted the FY2026–27 fees-and-charges manual, approving a $2-per-month solid-waste increase, a 7–7.5% stormwater adjustment and the third year of a three-year water-rate plan; staff said combined fee changes will raise about $1.1 million in general-fund revenue.
The Asheville City Council adopted an ordinance March 24 amending the city's fees-and-charges manual for fiscal year 2026–27, approving modest increases meant to help close an anticipated budget gap.
Budget and Performance Manager Lindsey Spangler said the single largest near-term change is a $2-per-month increase to the residential solid-waste fee (from $18 to $20) driven by rising disposal and tipping fees and the loss of a county rebate. The city also restructured street-closure fees to better reflect complexity, increased nature-center admission fees and recommended a 7–7.5% increase in stormwater charges tied to aging infrastructure and post-storm capital needs.
Spangler asked council to approve the third year of a previously adopted three-year water-rate plan, which staff said would continue efforts to align classes and fund roughly $250 million in multi-year capital improvements to make the system more resilient after Tropical Storm Helene. Staff estimated an average bi-monthly household increase of about $11, roughly $67 annually, when combined across typical fees.
Council approved the ordinance by voice vote with no members recorded as opposed during the meeting.
Staff said fee changes produce approximately $1.1 million in general-fund revenue and larger impacts in enterprise funds; council and staff noted the measures are part of a multi-year fiscal approach.
