At its June 2, 2026 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners adopted the Buncombe County Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget, totaling $484.4 million, reflecting a commitment to long-term financial stability, continued service delivery, and strategic investments that meet the community’s most pressing needs.

“This budget is a statement of County leadership's belief that our best days are ahead of us and belief that we can weather our short-term and long-term crises while providing effective, efficient services to our residents," said Chair Amanda Edwards.

The FY27 adopted budget sets a rate for a single Buncombe County Fire District, consolidating 20 taxing districts and increases investment in fire service by $14 million. The budget also establishes 17 capital projects to include construction of two additional EMS bases, design of an Emergency Operations Center, and renovations and investments in three libraries.

Structural Balance: One-Time Revenues for One-Time Expenses

The FY27 budget is structurally balanced, meaning the County is using one-time revenues exclusively for one-time expenditures to ensure responsible long-term planning. This includes $2.6 million in appropriated fund balance dedicated to one-time purchases and capital needs.

Board Lowers Proposed Tax Rate

Throughout the spring budget process, the Board worked closely with staff to identify cost savings and refine revenue estimates. These efforts resulted in a reduction of the recommended tax rate from 43.52 cents to 43.20 cents per $100 of assessed value, bringing the increase to 3.98 cents above revenue-neutral. For a home valued at $500,000, the Buncombe County property tax equates to $2,161.

Meeting Increased Community Demand

The County continues to experience growing demand for services across departments, including public safety, health and human services, and economic and community development. The FY27 budget includes 28 new positions, refined from earlier requests, to help staff meet those needs while maintaining fiscal discipline.

Sustained Investments in Key Community Priorities

The Board remains committed to sustaining investments in the areas that most directly impact quality of life and community resilience. Highlighted FY27 investments include:

• Education – Significant increases for K-12 schools through the education funding formula, including $11 million over FY26 in local current expense funding for Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools.
• Public Safety & Preparedness – Ongoing personnel investments and capital improvements to strengthen emergency response and community protection.
• Public Health – Continued support for core health services and community well-being initiatives, and the incorporation of the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency into the County as a department, continuing its mission to improve air quality despite reductions in federal funding and reduced fee revenues.
• Community Investments – Over $11.7 million in discretionary community investments supporting early childhood education, affordable housing, behavioral health, conservation, arts, and youth programs.

Special District Taxing Rates

The FY27 budget sets the Asheville City Schools tax rate at 8.64 cents per $100 of assessed value and the Unified Fire Tax District at 11.96 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Ordinances Adopted

A Collaborative Path Forward

This year’s budget reflects months of collaborative work sessions, public input, and careful analysis by the Board, County leadership, and staff. Through this process, the County remains focused on aligning resources with community priorities while ensuring transparency, accountability, and long-term fiscal health.