Black Mountain budget discussions continue with final workshop

Public hearing for town’s 2026-27 spending plan set for June 15

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
June 11, 2026

Black Mountain interim town manager Richard Hicks, on June 11, presents a plan to balance the 2026-27 budget to the town council. Photo by Fred McCormick

A series of workshops intended to resolve an approximately $2.8 million combined shortfall in the Town of Black Mountain 2026-27 general and water funds concluded, June 11, with a proposal to reduce expenditures while increasing projected revenues.

The draft of the document will be the subject of a public hearing, at 6 p.m., Monday, June 15.

Elected officials gathered for a sixth budget workshop to consider recommendations proposed by interim town manager Richard Hicks, who in his May budget message outlined a nearly $1.9 million deficit in the municipality’s general fund and an approximately $918,000 shortfall in the water fund.

Hicks, serving as the town’s interim manager and finance director since January, proposed a one-year freeze of four open positions, including the assistant manager and project manager, and the elimination of the unoccupied public information officer role and an additional unoccupied post. His recommendations also included the removal of three unidentified occupied positions from the upcoming budget.

Councilmember Doug Hay, in the final workshop, expressed support for eliminating the positions of assistant town manager and project manager.

“I think, publicly, it says something, and makes more of a statement,” he said.

The town created a project manager position, at a total annual compensation of $121,000, in 2022. Two years later, the council approved an assistant town manager position for $181,000 per year. Councilmember Larry Harris was supportive of Hay’s suggestion.

“I’m fine with that, because if there is ever a need to fund it again, then we’ll have to talk about it,” he said. “Or, a future board has to.”

Two additional positions proposed for elimination, totaling around $184,000 in annual compensation, were vacated in the past week, according to Hicks.

“We may need guidance on a third,” he told the board.

“Unfortunately, we’ve added positions that this town couldn’t afford and, for the population, didn’t need,” Mayor Michael Sobol said.

A recommendation to cut a total of $24,000 in annual town contribution to community organizations, Friends of the Fonta Flora Trail, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry and the Black Mountain Tree Committee was declined by the town council.

“I would prefer adding that back in, because I don’t like the impression that we are picking and choosing who we contribute to, if we maintain our contribution to the chamber and other things,” Councilmember Ryan Stone said. “You can’t do for one what you can’t do for all, at least that’s always been my philosophy on it.”

With a proposed measure requiring department heads to identify an additional $100,000 in cost-saving measures after the approval of the budget, Harris asked to increase that number to offset the contributions to local organizations. The initial proposal called for those cuts to be made within 90 to 120 days after July 1, but Harris requested shortening the deadline to 30 days.

“It’s never going to be an easy decision,” he said to Hicks. “What I’m getting at, I don’t know what your clock is, but I’d like for you to oversee that.”

Senate Bill 889, adopted, June 10, by the General Assembly, places a moratorium on property tax reappraisals throughout the state, The Town of Black Mountain, in its proposed 2026-27 budget, will increase local property taxes by 2.9 cents per $100 of valuation, generating an additional $536,000 in revenue to offset the budget shortfall. The town’s proposed ad valorem tax rate will increase from .0321% to .035%.

“What we’re doing in budgeting the way we are now is planning on a good economy,” Sobol said. “If we don’t have a good economy, we’ll be losing tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in building permits, or losing out on additional sales tax because we don’t have as many tourists. That’s the caveat we don’t know, and those are things that could adversely affect the budget in the future.”

Upon the approval of the proposed spending plan, Black Mountain residents will pay an additional $3.50 per month in sanitation fees, amid rising disposal costs at the Buncombe County landfill.

Overcoming the shortfall in the water fund will begin with the elimination of one position, compensated at $68,000 per year, and a one-year freeze of funding for half of a vacant job that is split between the water and public works departments. The proposed budget will include a $7 per month increase for water customers, who currently pay a monthly fee of $6.14. The increase, combined with an 18 cent per 100 gallons hike in the use rate, is anticipated to generate to generate approximately $682,000 of revenue for the town in the coming fiscal year.

A nearly $3.9 million spending plan for the Black Mountain Fire Department, with 59% funded through the town and 41% from Buncombe County, will include salary increases of $10,000 per year for 15 firefighters and engineers, upon the adoption of the budget. Six lieutenants will receive annual salary bumps of $5,000, while the chief, deputy chief and fire inspector will each receive a 3% cost of living adjustment. The department will reduce part-time salaries by $80,000 in the upcoming fiscal year, while transferring $100,000 to the town’s general fund for administrative expenses.

“I want to say that I appreciate all the advocacy from Chief (John) Coffey and the fire department around ensuring that we have pay that is in the ballpark of our neighbors,” Hay said. “I’m glad we are able to do that, and hopefully continue to be competitive with surrounding districts.”

Hicks will present key aspects of the proposed budget during the the June 15 hearing, which will allow public comments. If approved, the document will be officially adopted, Tuesday, June 30.

“I have a lot of work to do between now and then,” Hicks said.