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Buncombe County Board unanimously adopts 2026 legislative agenda and urges Raleigh to pass state budget
Summary
After extensive public comment urging greater state funding, the board unanimously approved its 2026 legislative agenda and a local resolution urging the North Carolina General Assembly to pass a 2026 appropriation with staffing, salary, and exceptional-children funding priorities.
Following public comment that emphasized staffing and funding shortfalls, the Buncombe County Board of Education voted to adopt its 2026 legislative agenda and a companion state-budget resolution during the April 2 meeting.
The board’s legislative agenda — approved by voice vote — lists priorities including recovery funding for Hurricane Helene, protection of ADM-based funding, mental-health and administrative staffing ratios (the resolution lists recommended ratios such as 1:250 for school social workers and counselors, 1:500 for school psychologists, and at least one nurse per school), increases to teacher and principal pay, restoration of advanced-degree pay and retirement benefits, and measures to accelerate learning and expand pre-K seats.
Dr. Jackson then read a local resolution urging immediate passage of a 2026 appropriations act. The resolution cites North Carolina General Statute 143C-4-1 (budget duty of the General Assembly) and 143C-5-4B (budget continuation provisions) and asks lawmakers to include step increases, education-based salary supplements, expanded school repair and renovation funds, recurring funding for 320 additional school health personnel positions, and adjustments to the exceptional-children funding cap (district text asked for either a weighted funding model and $92.6 million recurring and $27.2 million non-recurring, or an increase in the cap to 13.5% costing roughly $20 million recurring).
Board members discussed public comments during the motion but did not amend the legislative agenda or resolution. Board members asked about distribution and outreach; Dr. Jackson said he will share the legislative agenda with Western North Carolina superintendents and will send the resolution to state superintendents and legislators.
The board also approved a consent agenda (minutes, personnel reports, budget amendment, facility naming requests and policy second readings) and noted upcoming meetings, then adjourned. The meeting record shows voice votes with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript; outcomes were recorded by the chair as carried/approved.
