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Advisory board warned of county budget risk after appraisal law change; commissioners to decide
Summary
Recreation staff told the advisory board a recent law change on property-appraisal use could produce a multi-million-dollar shortfall in the county's budget unless commissioners choose an alternative; staff urged board members to monitor a commissioners meeting that evening.
Recreation staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that a recent change in appraisal rules has created a funding dilemma for Buncombe County and could affect parks funding.
"In the last 2 3 weeks, 4 weeks, a bill has been passed... we can no longer... use the 2025 appraisals... that would cause us to be a 25,000,000 short for the budget," said Liz Hookwater, recreation division manager, summarizing staff analysis of the policy change and the choices facing the county.
What staff described: the commissioners had approved the budget based on 2025 appraisals. Staff said the new rule either prohibits using those appraisals or requires revenue neutrality if they are used. One alternative under consideration is reverting to 2021 valuations and adjusting the tax rate; staff cautioned that doing so may shift burdens unevenly across property types and demographics.
Board reaction and next steps: staff encouraged board members to follow the commissioners' meeting that evening, and suggested the board could invite a commissioner or the county's budget champion to brief the advisory board at a future meeting. Staff said more information about bonds will follow as commissioners continue discussion.
