With a small property tax increase and much uncertainty remaining, Asheville City Council moved one step closer to a decision on the city’s money issues tonight, as staff presented its formal budget.
Author: David Forbes
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Asheville City Council preview: counting coins
After much discussion, projections of potential fiscal disaster, and speculation about the next legislation to issue forth from Raleigh, the city of Asheville’s budget is finally unveiled at tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting.
Putting numbers to Asheville’s housing crunch
It’s commonly said that housing’s hard to find in Asheville. Numbers from the U.S. Census and elsewhere shine a light on exactly how hard.
State House Finance Chair gives up role, mentions Asheville conflicts, alleges unethical behavior
From WRAL: Longtime House lawmaker Rep. Robert Brawley, R-Iredell, handed back his Finance gavel Wednesday afternoon with a blistering public letter against fellow Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis. In his letter, read aloud during Wednesday’s House session, Brawley says Tillis pressured him over House Bill 557, Brawley’s bill to increase the territory area for local […]
Hedging the budget
With the details hinging on what North Carolina legislators and the courts do, Asheville City Council gave staff the go-ahead May 17 to start drafting the 2013-2014 budget. The proposal assumes that the city and Buncombe County may consolidate parks and recreation operations by early next year — a move that could save the city […]
Hearings in Franklin, Marion on Duke Energy rate hike
From the Canary Coalition: The North Carolina Utilities Commission will be holding a series of six public hearings on Duke Energy’s latest request for a rate increase. The first hearing will be held in Franklin on Tuesday, May 21, 7 PM at the Macon County courthouse, 5 W. Main Street, Courtroom A. A large public […]
NC Justice Center: Jobs picture worse than it looks
From the NC Justice Center: RALEIGH ( May 17, 2013) — North Carolina’s jobs picture remains bleak despite superficial improvement the state’s unemployment rate, according to new numbers released by the N.C. Division of Employment Security today. Almost 20,000 workers dropped out of the labor force last month, including 15,000 jobless workers who were unable […]
NC Senate President Pro Tem: Budget proposal “balanced, fiscally responsible”
From the office of NC Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger: Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Senate has followed Gov. Pat McCrory’s lead in crafting a balanced, fiscally responsible state budget that continues to invest in core priorities, streamline state government, reform public education and grow North Carolina’s economy. Like the governor’s proposal, the […]
‘Firm correctness’: an I Ching app predicts the Asheville City Council elections
Amid the lawsuits and budget wrangling, Asheville City Council elections are approaching. There’s something clearly missing in the media speculation about who will run and win: electronic versions of ancient Chinese prophecy. Here’s what my I-Ching phone app says about each campaign, along with some agricultural and marital advice.
Transit rider survey May 20-May 31
Full announcement from Land of Sky: French Broad River MPO and NCDOT are sponsoring the Western North Carolina Regional Travel Survey. The purpose of this travel survey is to collect information on local household travel behaviors. Residents of Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties are being invited to take part in this important Regional […]
Erwin District Community Resource Fair May 20
Full announcement from Buncombe County Schools: Come to the Erwin District Community Resource Fair Monday, May 20, 2013 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Erwin HS Cafeteria FREE ADMISSION…PIZZA SUPPER PROVIDED…30 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS! Don’t miss this special opportunity for parents and students to learn about important community resources and pick up valuable info! Learn about summer […]
City of Asheville budget app now available
From the Asheville Code for America Brigade Citizens of Asheville now have a new online resource to view and analyze the City of Asheville’s budget. Code for Asheville, a volunteer-run “Brigade” of Code for America, released a web application for exploring Asheville’s pubished annual budget data. “Look at Asheville” (http://codeforasheville.org/look-at-asheville/ ) offers graphs and drill-downs […]
Asheville City Council tentatively endorses budget plan, uncertainties remain
While noting that much of its fate remains in the hands of the state legislature, at a special meeting this morning Asheville City Council gave staff the go-ahead to start drafting a budget based on a plan that calls for a 1 cent property tax increase and assumes the city and county may consolidate their parks and recreation operations by January.
Local religious leaders will gather May 20 to protest state laws’ impact on poor, minorities
Full announcement from First Congregational United Church of Christ: Faith Leaders of Asheville gather to call attention to low income and minority people and the impact on them by North Carolina General Assembly legislation. Topics covered will include bills on taxes, public education, the racial justice act, hindering access to the voting booth, health care, […]
Just Us for All announces 4th annual “We Are Not Bashful” march
From Just Us for All: We’re Not Bashful, the march that started Just Us For All’s formation, is the organization’s annual march to combat and raise awareness around violence in the community. Started several years ago in response to a frightening trend of gay bashings in the downtown and Montford area, We’re Not Bashful, this […]
Bele Chere calls for childrens’ area non-profit sponsors
From the city of Asheville: Asheville, NC – The City of Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department is now accepting applications for local non-profit organizations to participate in the Children’s Area of the 2013 Bele Chere Festival being held July 26 through 28. Selected organizations will develop and implement a children’s activity or service […]
City of Asheville accepting applications for July 4 fundraising
From the city of Asheville: Asheville, NC – The City of Asheville invites local nonprofit organizations to apply for a fundraising opportunity at the Independence Day Celebration in downtown Asheville on Thursday, July 4, 2013. Deadline to apply is Friday, May 24. A single nonprofit organization will be selected to staff two beverage and wristband […]
Council announces delay in water system takeover, passes energy financing
At a relatively brief Asheville City Council meeting tonight, city staff announced that a judge in Wake County has agreed to delay a state law forcibly transferring the water system. Council also approved $1.1 million in financing for energy efficiency improvements and the creation of a new multimodal transportation commission.
The city’s going to court
A state-mandated transfer of the Asheville water system will be tested in court. At a special May 7 meeting, Asheville City Council members voted unanimously to sue the state of North Carolina over House Bill 488, legislation that gives control of the system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County. The stage is set: […]
After spill, MSD investigating contractor
On April 30, a malfunctioning pump spewed millions of gallons of raw sewage into the French Broad River. While the problem was repaired the same day, Metropolitan Sewerage District General Manager Tom Hartye tells Xpress it never should have happened in the first place. The contractor, Statesville-based Gilbert Engineering & Construction, failed to follow a […]
Growing in unison
On Crescent Street, just off of Charlotte Street, some local residents are reviving a form of agriculture, and trying to put food on the plate in the process. The Charlotte Got Crops community garden focuses on the Native American practice of “the three sisters,” growing squash, corn and beans together. Julian Dominic, an area resident, […]