Local Politics · Asheville, NC
Asheville City Council faces a projected "even more challenging" budget year due to inflation and slowed revenue growth, according to an Oct. 13 memo from City Manager D.K. Wesley. Six candidates are competing for three Council seats, proposing solutions ranging from spending cuts to new taxes including transit funding and food-and-beverage levies. The city and county have raised combined property tax rates by 23.22 cents per $100 of assessed value since 2023, adding roughly $813 annually for a $350,000 home. A proposed state amendment on this year's ballot would limit property tax increases, which local officials say could complicate budget balancing.
Local Politics · Buncombe County
While 16 states plan to increase their minimum wage next year, North Carolina advocates are pushing for similar changes despite failed legislative efforts. State Representative Eric Ager confirmed that bills proposing a $15 minimum wage died in the rules committee. Nonprofit Just Economics of Western North Carolina reports the living wage in Buncombe County is currently $24.10 an hour. Economists note potential trade-offs, such as increased costs or reduced hours, if wages rise significantly.
Community brief · Asheville, NC
A former Gold's Gym location on Patton Avenue in Asheville, N.C., is being converted into an O'Reilly Auto Parts store with a targeted opening date of mid-January 2027. The property is owned by Pulliam Properties, confirmed by Rusty Pulliam. The Patton Avenue gym closed in April, leaving the Fairview Road location as the sole Gold's Gym operating in Asheville after the Hendersonville Road branch closed in 2024.
