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Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:11 |
By MEEGAN KELLY
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on June 20 voted unanimously to adopt a county budget for the next fiscal year that will increase property taxes by 18 percent.
Though the tax rate will technically drop from 59 cents to 53 cents per $100 of valuation, this is still higher than the 50.25 cent rate that would have offset the recent countywide property revaluation.
Most residents saw their property-value assessment increase by 40 percent, on average.
The new budget also requires County Manager Wanda Greene to transfer
five vacant positions from the county work force to the Sheriff??s
Department and redesign them for patrol deputies.
?®This is my favorite part of the budget ?? closing it out,?∆ Greene said.
The budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, totals
$282.1 million and includes several increases in expenditures.
?®This is not revenue-neutral,?∆ Greene said. ?®Unfortunately, our expenses aren??t expense-neutral, either.?∆
For example, $4.5 million was allotted for an addition to the Buncombe
County Detention Center. The facility has room for 350 inmates, but
there are usually at least 400 people housed there.
?®The worst thing a county commission has to do is build a jail,?∆
Commissioner David Gantt said. ?®It??s a horrible expense. Some
commissions will say, ?¥We??re just not going to touch that hot potato,??
but if you put it off, it will just cost more.?∆
Another expenditure included in the new budget provides about $6
million more toward education. City and county schools will receive $4
million and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College will receive
an additional $1.8 million.
?®That??s fair,?∆ commissioners?? Chairman Nathan Ramsey said. ?®It??s been a
challenge for the county. Neighborhoods are struggling with property
that has been in their family for years and they can only get their tax
rate reduced on appeal. It will be a challenge at 53 cents but would be
a challenge at 40 cents.?∆
Moreover, Commissioner Bill Stanley expressed concern about the effect of the property taxes on people with fixed incomes.
?®Folks, in the 18 years that I??ve been here, it??s been a problem. I
would personally like to see the law changed,?∆ Stanley said.
He suggested that when landowners reach the age of 55 or 60, they
should not have to pay taxes anymore unless the land changes hands.
?®But, we have to go by fair market value. That??s the law,?∆ Stanley
added.
Even though the tax rate was reduced, property revaluations this year
increased property values by an average of 45 percent. Regardless of
the lower rate, many property owners will still be paying more taxes in
2007.
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