News

County adopts $216 million budget with no tax increase

By Bill Moss, Published: June 4, 2025

Henderson County commissioners adopted a $216 million fiscal year 2025-26 budget on Monday night that keeps the tax rate level at 43.1 cents per $100 valuation, funds the first year of construction of the $160 million courthouse-jail expansion, continues construction of the Berkeley Park sportsplex and pays for repairs of the Etowah sewer system, which the county bought last year.

The unanimous vote to adopt the budget came after commissioners added $1.7 million in their own requests. The extra cost was covered by updated revenue projections, higher fire inspection fees and fund balance transfer. Among the add-ons commissioners inserted into the spending plan were $39,238 for the Rescue Squad, $100,000 for a Back on Track addiction ministries expansion, $25,000 for AdventHealth, $25,000 for the Henderson County Education Foundation, $80,000 for Hope Coalition, $3,000 for Only Hope WNC, $20,000 for the Free Clinics, $500,000 in capital funding and $763,463 in operating expenses for K-12 schools, $196,923 for the fire marshal’s office, $67,489 for a rec department mowing worker, $38,349 for an ATV for Jackson Park, $38,349 for a ballfield dragger and $73,447 for a librarian position to organize and digitize the Baker-Barber collection of historic photos.

In another matter, architect Ethan Ward described plans for a new ag center at Jackson Park designed to house the Agriculture Extension Service, 4-H clubs, the federal Farm Service Agency, the Soil & Water Conservation Service and AgHC.

Preliminary plans show a 22,200-square-foot building including offices for the local, state and federal farm agencies and an 8,940-square-foot shared space for meetings and presentations.

“We’re gonna take these drawings and go to the agriculture community and make sure we get their feedback,” Assistant County Manager Christopher Todd said.

In a discussion on debris removal, Commissioner Rebecca McCall asked county engineer Marcus Jones about private property debris removal from Helene. She asked, “When they say ‘I put my application in three months ago and nothing’s happened yet,’ what do we tell them?”

“Be patient,” Jones said.