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Asheville City Schools previews budget shortfall, asks board to weigh $2.2M in enhancement requests and 10¢ supplemental tax
Summary
Superintendent Maggie told the board the district may need about $2.3 million from fund balance to balance next year’s budget under current state and local assumptions and presented roughly $2.2–$2.3 million in enhancement requests aligned to the strategic plan; the board will vote on the district’s local budget message to Buncombe County next week.
Superintendent Maggie told the Asheville City Schools Board on Monday that under current state and local assumptions the district could need about $2.3 million from fund balance to reach break‑even for the coming year.
“We assume that that will be close to around $150,000 in state funding” that could be lost, and “it would take about $2.3 million of fund balance to be at break even,” Maggie said as she reviewed preliminary revenue and expense estimates. Administration also estimated a first‑year loss of roughly $500,000 in school‑nutrition revenue under Community Eligibility Provision changes and projected about $1.7 million in new local formula revenue.
The administration presented a separate set of enhancement requests from principals and departments that total about $2.2–$2.3 million if funded in full. Those requests — roughly 32 positions across schools — were tagged to strategic priorities the district identified as (1) closing the achievement gap, (2) reducing disproportionate discipline outcomes and (3) improving overall student outcomes.
Maggie and staff outlined a prioritization approach: requests directly tied to closing the achievement gap would be considered first, followed by requests addressing discipline disproportionality and then other student‑outcome positions. Board members asked clarifying questions about specifics — such as adding media assistants versus media coordinators, expanded Saturday‑school offerings and additional social‑worker staffing — and were told action plans and implementation details will be developed during May–August action‑planning work.
Administration presented modeling showing that a supplemental tax adjustment (illustrated at 10 cents in the district’s material) could add roughly $2.6 million to local revenue in the presented scenario and turn a projected use of fund balance into a small surplus. Board members were reminded they must approve the district’s formal local budget message to Buncombe County by next week so the request can be included with county budget deliberations.
Next steps: the board is scheduled to vote on the district’s local budget request and supplemental‑tax recommendation at its next regular meeting; administration said it will return with more detailed implementation plans, enrollment updates and refined numbers as state and county budgets crystallize.
Who said it: Superintendent Maggie led the presentation and Heidi (district finance staff) supplied technical clarifications. Board members asked questions and requested follow‑up information.
What happens next: The board must approve the local budget message to Buncombe County next week; administration will return to the June work session with additional budget scenarios and action‑plan details.
