Behind-the-scenes negotiations over a lawsuit, a push from Raleigh to force district-based elections for Asheville, and the fate of a parks-and-recreation bill that could save city government millions — all this and more are revealed in emails between Council members, city staff and North Carolina legislators. Recently obtained by Xpress, the documents show a candid […]
At the end of a rollercoaster budget season marked by dire predictions, unpredictability at the state level, and Asheville City Council members trying to find the cash for their own plans, there’s finally a vote on the budget this evening. For the first time since 1995, city residents could see a major tax increase, intended to pay for an “aspirational” list of major projects.
New parking decks, affordable housing, a renovation to the Asheville Art Museum, and pedestrian improvements. All these and more are the goals of an $11.6 million fund the city of Asheville’s government wants to set up in an attempt to spur economic development. With planned savings from state legislation looking increasingly unlikely, the city may use a tax increase to make the projects a reality.
More emails obtained by Xpress shed new light on the push by some local lawmakers to impose a district election system on the city of Asheville.
The public got a chance to weigh in on the city’s proposed $143 million budget at tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting. Some were critical of the priorities laid out and a proposed 1 cent tax increase. But during Council’s discussion, members revealed yet another budget plan may be in the works, with higher taxes, as they believe state legislators are unlikely to allow Asheville and Buncombe County to form a Culture and Recreations Authority that could save millions for the local governments. Photo by Max Cooper.
Budget time! Project X! All that and more at tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting. Follow live Twitter coverage here.
The uncertain budget meets the economic development project that no one can talk about. Tonight, the public gets a chance to weigh in on the city of Asheville’s proposed budget and the mysterious “Project X” at tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting.
The perfect storm of revenue overhauls in Raleigh, a property revaluation and a major reorganization of city departments make this year’s city of Asheville budget complicated, to say the least. Here’s some important things to know before tonight’s public hearing.
An unassuming patch of ground on East Chestnut Street embodies a critical debate confronting Asheville: How does a rapidly changing city balance the unique virtues of local character and the pressing need for more housing?
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.
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.
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.
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.
At its meeting tonight, Asheville City Council takes a look at financing green energy improvements and establishing a multimodal transportation commission.
At a special meeting tonight, May 7, Asheville City Council members voted unanimously to sue the state of North Carolina over a bill forcibly transferring the city’s water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District. City Attorney Bob Oast cited “legal, constitutional, and practical issues” with the mandate.
It’s a busy evening in local government, with meetings of both the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and Asheville City Council. This post features live updates from the meetings via Twitter.
Asheville, we are used to doing great things, let's keep that up please. When my nephew visits I would like to take the bus on Saturday to the nature center — oh, we are going to cut both of those. OK, we'll just walk over to the Malvern Hills Park pool. Oh, cut too. Fine […]
Tonight, Asheville City Council discussed a possible tax hike to help offset some financial impacts that pending state legislation could have on the current budget crunch, and Mayor Terry Bellamy said she’d vote to sue the state if it went through with a proposal to forcibly transfer the city’s water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District. Council also approved a Tunnel Road commercial development anchored by a Whole Foods.
Election season is underway for Asheville City Council. So far, a number of contenders have announced that they’ll run: Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer and former Asheville Risk Management Director John Miall will aim for the mayor’s seat (current Mayor Terry Bellamy departs and will take another shot at beating Rep. Patrick McHenry for a seat […]
Developments in South Asheville and Tunnel Road are up for consideration at tomorrow night’s Asheville City Council meeting, along with (of course) the city’s ongoing budget crunch.
Unlike the last budget crunch town hall, tonight’s Asheville City Council forum in South Asheville was less a public comment marathon and more of a brainstorming session. After breaking into small groups, the roughly 40 residents who attended endorsed a property tax increase, along with some cuts and some suggestions of their own, to close Asheville’s budget gap.
