Avery County commissioners reach preliminary budget agreements: 5% COLA, school funding increases and tax rate held

The Avery County Board of Commissioners met May 7 for a budget workshop and agreed preliminarily to several funding decisions for fiscal year 2024–25, including a 5% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for county employees, additional school funding and a hold on the county tax rate.

County Manager Phillip Barrier Jr. summarized the board’s understandings near the end of the meeting, saying the operating budget for Avery County Schools would increase by $105,000, the board would fund a 5% COLA for county employees, add one new sheriff deputy position with a vehicle, and provide $92,500 total for nonprofit special appropriations.

On schools, the board agreed to add $60,000 to cover a shortfall in the county’s Pre‑K program, which provides free Pre‑K to students, and to allocate $45,000 for classroom supplies after hearing that teachers had been purchasing materials out of pocket. The board also agreed to fund $750,000 for recurring school capital items and directed the school board to return to commissioners before moving those funds to other capital items.

Health benefits were noted as a cost pressure: staff reported a 5.5% premium increase from Blue Cross and Blue Shield and proposed plan design changes, including a $300 emergency‑room copayment and 50% coverage for out‑of‑network providers, as ways to contain costs.

Commissioners debated COLA levels before reaching a majority consensus on 5%. Commissioner Dennis Aldridge referenced neighboring counties’ increases, and Commissioner Wood Hall Young Jr. suggested 3.5%; Commissioner Robert Burleson advocated for a larger increase. The meeting record states the board reached a consensus to fund a 5% COLA for county employees.

County Manager Barrier also reported that the board agreed to fund nonprofits at $92,500 total and included a $40,000 contracted‑services line in the Economic Development budget for an occupancy‑tax setup and an education campaign for hotels and short‑term rentals; a resolution and bylaws for a tourism development authority were expected at the June meeting.

Barrier summarized the tax decision included in the preliminary plan: maintain the ad valorem rate at 33.5 cents and a fire tax of 6.5 cents for a combined 40 cents per $100 valuation. The record shows no final formal adoption vote on the full budget at this workshop; the items above were recorded as agreed understandings.

The board adjourned at 5:56 p.m. after a motion by Commissioner Dennis Aldridge, seconded by Commissioner Martha Hicks, which passed unanimously, 5–0.

Next steps: staff will draft formal budget language and a letter to the schools outlining the Pre‑K, supplies and capital decisions; the tourism development authority resolution and bylaws are scheduled for the June meeting.