Asheville City Schools seeks supplemental‑tax increase; commissioners press for data and equity outcomes

Asheville City Schools presented its case for preserving and increasing a voter‑approved supplemental tax to sustain enhancement teachers, elective offerings and targeted services for students with higher needs.

Superintendent (Dr.) Berman traced the tax’s history and the district’s current needs, saying the supplemental levy supports locally funded positions and programs voters intended to preserve. "I am here today saying that we need a supplemental tax of 10¢ so that we can continue this work," Berman said, describing priorities such as support for exceptional‑children services, summer programming and smaller class sizes.

Commissioners asked for clarifying data about per‑pupil allocations, enrollment trends, and what the incremental tax would fund. One commissioner (speaker 11) voiced strong skepticism about increasing the supplemental tax without clearer evidence of equitable outcomes, saying decades of investment had not resolved achievement gaps for Black students and that he could not support an increase without proof of results. Berman responded that the district has seen measurable improvements — including reductions in suspension disparities and gains in third‑grade reading — and said the additional revenue would sustain and expand programs shown to improve outcomes.

Staff clarified how Buncombe County’s local current expense funding and Article 39 sales‑tax allocations interact with the city supplemental tax; commissioners asked for written Q&A and further analysis, including breakdowns of how many Asheville City School staff live in the city and the projected impact on households at different home‑value levels.

Why it matters: The supplemental tax applies only within the Asheville City Schools taxing district; changes would affect property owners there and influence the county’s overall K–12 funding choices. Commissioners asked for more precise cost, headcount and outcome data before committing to increases.

Next steps: County staff will follow up with written answers to the commissioners’ questions and coordinate with the school district on additional data requested; the budget schedule calls for manager recommendations on May 5.