At a public hearing June 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners heard requests from educators for an increase in the supplemental tax paid by residents of the Asheville City Schools district.

However, few speakers complained about the countyís proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which would keep the property-tax rate at its current rate of 53 cents per $100 valuation.

Administrators, teachers and parents told the commissioners that an increase of 2 cents in the city schools supplemental tax to 17 cents per $100 valuation was necessary to avoid cuts in services.
The commissioners have said, however, that they are unlikely to raise taxes.

Chairman Nathan Ramsey noted that the Asheville district is among the best funded in the state. Commissioner David Young said the school system is generously funded and would get more funding than it did this year even without an increase in the tax rate.

Included in the $303.4 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 is a 4 percent cost-of-living increase for county employees. Last year, county workers did not get such a boost.

The board is scheduled to vote on the budget next Tuesday. If approved, the new budget would cut 35 positions in several county departments.