At its June 10 meeting, the college’s board of trustees unanimously approved a plan to find a replacement for President Dennis King, who announced last month that he’ll be retiring in January. The new hire would start no later than July 1, 2020, but no earlier than February of that year.
While Buncombe County’s current proposed budget includes nearly $3.6 million in new education funding, total requests from local systems on May 7 came to roughly $8.16 million. That figure includes $1.06 million more for A-B Tech, $2.09 million for Asheville City Schools and $5.01 million in increased funding for Buncombe County Schools.
On March 19, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved about $3.5 million in contracts for repairs and upgrades to four county buildings and four buildings at A-B Tech.
Commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a plan that dedicates $3.13 million in Article 46 tax revenues in fiscal year 2020 for capital expenses at the college. The money would keep coming in each of the next seven years, increasing 5.5 percent annually to account for anticipated increases in construction costs. The county would also cap transfers from Article 46 tax revenue to the general fund at $5 million and would limit the use of that money to operations at A-B Tech.
A new youth culinary training program pairs teens with top local chefs for training that culminates with a cooking competition.
“To me, the biggest question of all is: What is our leverage to make sure this private corporation fulfills its contract?”
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
From murals to tools to funding coups for transportation and education, Xpress brings you a selection of current news in brief from our issue of Aug. 1.
As of June 11, Buncombe County has $458.5 million in debt. Over half of that debt balance ― $270 million ― has paid for facilities for A-B Tech and the county’s two public school systems, the Asheville City and Buncombe County schools.
“As a multicultural community in which progressive values of inclusion and equality should prevail, Asheville deserves public servants, professionals and citizens who treat all people equally.”
“Amanda’s knack to listen and understand what is needed before quickly and effectively solving issues is what will make Amanda an excellent county commissioner.”
“Once we acknowledge that those back-of-house “dish-pit” employees are just as important (if not more) than the young and sprightly servers in the front of house, we can begin to change the climate and move the industry and the hard-working people of Asheville forward.”
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners heard development frustrations from Ridgecrest and South Asheville residents ahead of approving measures to shift a sales tax and backtrack on a deal with Duke Energy.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget, consider diverting the A-B Tech sales tax fund and discuss backing out of a deal with Duke Energy to conduct a solar farm feasibility study.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held a nearly five-hour budget workshop May 16, a forum dedicated to presentations and requests from county departments. However, talks also showed a possible path toward nudging closer to a revenue-neutral property tax rate. A taxing issue County Manager Wanda Greene’s proposed budget for next fiscal year is $419,289,728, […]
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners started consideration of the property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year during its meeting on Tuesday, May 2.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a variety of sustainability measures while continued talks about the current spending freeze on capital projects at A-B Tech was put on hold at the school’s request.
In the midst of change on A-B Tech’s campus, a county commissioner is questioning the college’s commitment to diversity. But the school’s president is outlining diversity achievements on campus. Xpress takes a look at the issue.
An diverse and influential group looks to incrementally implement universal preschool in Buncombe County. Xpress takes an in-depth look at the organization, logistics and potential costs behind the effort.
Commissioners unanimously requested that A-B Tech’s president return for a second round of questioning while also agreeing to continue a moratorium on the community college’s capital funding projects.
Music educator Jason DeCristofaro has planned a dozen benefit concerts to support various nonprofits. The next event takes place at The BLOCK off Biltmore on Sunday, Feb. 26, and features the Richard Shulman Quartet and Dan Keller Quartet.