Staff projects county revenue will come in $15.6 million under what was initially projected last summer, far better than the up to $25.7 million drop staff feared was possible in January. Next year’s numbers look similar.
Author: Greg Parlier
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A look into the daily routes of local school bus drivers
Bryan Newton has a full time job managing facilities at Camp Cedar Cliff. Still, he gets up at 5 a.m. every morning to drive about 22 students to school at Charles C. Bell Elementary School. Like the 225 other drivers in Buncombe County and Asheville City schools, Newton doesn’t do it for the money.
Preservation Society documents historic buildings after Helene
Tropical Storm Helene gives shipwreck experts a new way to use their skills — documenting storm-battered historic homes.
Asheville City Board of Education sets guiding principles
The Asheville City Board of Education passed a set of loose guidelines for how it should govern, communicate and act at meetings in a 6-1 vote at its meeting March 10. Board member Pepi Acebo voted against what the district called “board norms.”
ACS students could get free meals next year
Staff will submit an application to join the federal Community Eligibility Program, which reimburses the district for ensuring every student can eat breakfast and lunch free at school without having to fill out any paperwork.
Concerns about the Trump administration overwhelm Chuck Edwards’ office hours
Elon Musk, the tech billionaire whom President Donald Trump has entrusted to oversee the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was front of mind for many in attendance.
Buncombe County lobbies legislature for financial flexibility
After a meeting with lawmakers in Raleigh on Feb. 5, an idea emerged that could give local officials more flexibility in how some sales tax revenue is spent.
A window into life on the streets
For both volunteers and participants, the count, led by the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, represented an opportunity for much more than, well, counting. They were given an opportunity to see, maybe for the first time, what life is like for those many of us just walk past.
ACS student achievement lags after Helene-shortened semester
“This is a really big deal to me, because we lost 22 (days) in that first semester, and we’re only off by about five percentage points,” said Molly Peeples, early literacy specialist for ACS. “This tells me that our teachers are working incredibly hard to make up these gaps.”
Asheville school board goes on record opposing consolidation
Asheville City Board of Education weighs in on report that concludes that merging with Buncombe County Schools wouldn’t improve student outcomes or save month. The board does sign on for more collaboration though.
Grassroots organizers weigh in on FEMA’s effectiveness
Some organizers have found federal assistance to be absent for many and insufficient for others trying to navigate the complexities of recovery after losing their home during Tropical Storm Helene.
Grassroots organizers power Swannanoa’s recovery
After Tropical Storm Helene, sisters Beth Trigg and Mary Etheridge-Trigg were doing whatever was necessary to help their neighbors. Eventually, they realized they were the help Swannanoa was waiting for. But they soon discovered they were not alone in their efforts.
Q&A: Reparations vice chair stays focused after Helene
This conversation is the second in a series of interviews with members of Asheville’s Black community involved in establishing reparations for those who have been affected by generations of systemic racism in Asheville and Buncombe County.
Buncombe faces up to $25 million revenue drop post-Helene
To offset a loss in revenue, county staff proposes 4% cuts to the county’s general fund, including a 4% cut in K-12 education.
School district consolidation not recommended
“Based on the literature review, constituent input, local environmental factors, the current operations and academic outcomes of each school system, Prismatic does not recommend consolidation of ACS and BCS,” concluded a report from Charlotte-based education consultants Prismatic Services.
Debris removal will take ‘a long time,’ according to Buncombe County
After the storm, officials estimated that Helene created about 10 million cubic yards of debris in Buncombe County alone. County Manager Avril Pinder says “It’s going to take a long time” to clean up all the debris.
Buncombe’s new trash-service provider says all carts have been delivered
FCC Environmental says workers have delivered nearly 76,000 trash carts to 38,500 residents, but complaints about service continue to percolate through the community.
Draft report: School districts shouldn’t consolidate
Mandated by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023, Buncombe County hired Charlotte-based Prismatic Services in March to analyze the feasibility of merging the county’s two public school districts based on finances, student enrollment, policies, procedures, student well-being, personnel, operations and facilities.
Buncombe Democrats elect final county commissioner
In the crowded, fluorescent-lit basement of the Buncombe County Democratic Party headquarters in Oakley on Dec. 18, Democrats conducted the final election of 2024.
Historic Biltmore Village church to rebuild after first-time flooding
The Cathedral of All Souls maps its future after Tropical Storm Helene left destruction in its wake.
Buncombe County evictions march on post-Helene
Michael Coates chose to buy a generator to keep his insulin cold rather than pay rent. His landlord evicted him. Hundreds more fear they could face the same fate.
