Asheville City Council is working toward adoption of the proposed Fiscal Year 2018-19 Operating Budget.
Residents will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed plan during City Council’s 5 p.m. May 22 meeting, second floor of City Hall.
Budget adoption schedule
At Council’s May 15 meeting, Interim City Manager Cathy Ball presented the proposed budget to Council.
Public comment and adoption will occur during these City Council meetings, which begin at 5 p.m., Council Chambers, second floor of City Hall:
- May 22: City Council will hold a public hearing on the budget.
- June 19: Council is expected to adopt the budget during this meeting.
- July 1: Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Budget goes into effect.
Want more information? Presentations and materials for Council have been posted on the City’s Budget Process webpage.
Budget details
By state law, the City of Asheville must pass a balanced budget by July 1. Council held three worksessions with City staff to explore budget options for the new year. In these sessions, Council identified three areas to expand service that they wanted staff to include in the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget:
- Adding an additional set of turnout gear for all firefighters to enhance safety and mitigate health risks.
- Adding staff to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and;
- Adding a staff member to enhance support of ART bus service and the new Transit Master Plan.
In order to balance the budget, the following strategies were supported by Council at the work sessions:
- Maintain existing health insurance contribution
- Reduce Asheville Fire Department fleet allocation in light of new equipment coming on line
- Employee compensation increase of 2.5%
- Adjust the parking garage fees: The daily maximum and monthly rates will increase, and the “first hour free” model will convert to an “in-and-out in an hour free”
- Renegotiated county tax billing contract
- Adjust Asheville Police Department recruiting to better reflect anticipated hires
- Incorporate additional fund balance allocation
Related to the budget:
Asheville’s larger development fees to rise, tennis center passes lowered