A group of Black women City of Asheville employees were lauded during the Sept. 10 Council meeting, after they raised concerns over hiring and compensation practices. The City of Asheville says it’s taking steps to address the concerns.
Tag: City Manager Debra Campbell
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Council to hold public hearing on proposed budget Tuesday, May 28
The proposed budget includes a 4.11% salary increase for all permanent city employees.
Council weighs tax increase, budget cuts to fund pay raises
Asheville City Council learned during an April 9 budget work session that a 4.11% pay raise for city employees next fiscal year would drive the city’s undesignated general fund balance below its preferred minimum.
Asheville City Council opts to stay the course at annual retreat
Members of Asheville City Council and city staff met for two-day retreat Feb. 22-23 at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville.
DEVELOPING STORY: APD Chief David Zack resigns; Lamb named interim chief
Asheville Police Chief David Zack submitted his resignation on Dec. 15, according to Kim Miller, the city’s communication specialist.
Letter: Molton cartoon says it all
“Perhaps it will wake people up to the fact that they really are leading the city over a cliff.”
Impact of water outage “largely avoidable,” says independent committee
City staff had been informed of a “high probability” of a closed valve located on a main water line Jan. 10, 2022, nearly a year before the outage.
Citizen group coalesces around police support
Shared concerns about crime and an understaffed Asheville Police Department fostered an unusual alliance in today’s partisan times. An advocacy group called Asheville Coalition for Public Safety formed in October, bringing together community members of all political stripes who are concerned about crime, mental health, drug use and the unhoused population.
Asheville budget hearing marked by low turnout
The occasion typically sees dozens of residents making their cases for enhanced spending or budget cuts on a range of city services, but was uncharacteristically quiet during the May 23 meeting of Asheville City Council.
Former Asheville Council member sues city, Asheville City Schools Foundation over scholarships
A $10,000 scholarship for local Black students is the subject of a lawsuit by a group headed by a former Asheville City Council member. Carl Mumpower, president of WNC Citizens for Equality Inc. and a former chair of the Buncombe County Republican Party, filed a civil suit Oct. 11. It names the city of Asheville, […]
Conference on reparations comes to UNCA Nov. 6
The eighth annual African Americans in Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia Conference, presented by UNC Asheville, will examine both local and national reparations Saturday, Nov. 6.
Urban centers zoning comes to Council Sept. 28
Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission narrowly voted to approve the proposed zoning amendment in a 4-3 vote Sept. 1. If the change is approved, they will hold a subsequent public hearing to consider rezoning several properties totalling 122 acres to the new district
City equity office struggles amid staffing issues
The office finds itself without any permanent staff and has no public process for hiring new employees. The vacancies come after a wave of resignations, as well as public criticism from former employees and elected leaders about a lack of support and accountability for equity work.
Asheville projects higher taxes for budget priorities
The proposed tax rate of 41.3 cents appears lower than the current rate of 42.89 cents, explained city Director of Finance Tony McDowell. However, the median tax bill will still go up from $995 to $1,215 — more than 22% — due to the 27% increase in median property value for Asheville residents assessed by this year’s Buncombe County revaluation.
News in brief: Asheville City Schools names new superintendent; candidates announced for APD police chief
Asheville City Schools selects Gene Freeman for superintendent Asheville City Schools announced Dec. 19 that the system had chosen Gene Freeman as its new superintendent. Freeman is currently the superintendent of the Fox Chapel Area School District, located in a suburb of Pittsburgh, and has more than 25 years of experience in education. The Asheville […]