Both the City of Asheville and Buncombe County are facing budget issues. On Nov. 26, city staff indicated that they’re trying to cope with a potentially $5.3 million gap in the next fiscal year. Today, County Manager Wanda Greene said she’s asked every department to prepare for 5 percent budget cuts.

How should the county and city deal with these financial issues? What are some areas that you think are ripe for the cutting? What are some ways to get new revenue?

$5.3 million?!

In years with much smaller shortfalls, the city raised various fees in various departments, trying to avoid raising property taxes. I don’t think there’s enough fees to go around (parking tickets? that’s an enterprise fund, I think; water rates? they’re already high, and the Sullivan Act keeps the city from charging more to customers outside the city limits; various building fees? who’s building now? sales tax revenue? who’s buying anything?)

Sticky wicket. Will budget cuts in all departments be enough?

Allow medical marijuana clubs to sell small amounts to locals and tourists and tax the heck out of it.

Its doing well for Nevada, Montana, and Oregon. I think even tennessee has a program.

offer the city’s next crop of debutants into arranged marraiges put the dowries into the general fund ....

lease naming rights for the city and/or city streets(5 years only)
we could be googleville
or far west dubai

The Biltmore family should be paying to have their own street

maybe we could turn west asheville into a theme park

river district can be a series of water rides with local artists throwing ecofriendly paint all over the park guests ....

12 bones can have cut outs of Obama in different poses for diners to take pictures with ....

David Forbes - 16 December 2008 08:20 PM

Both the City of Asheville and Buncombe County are facing budget issues. On Nov. 26, city staff indicated that they’re trying to cope with a potentially $5.3 million gap in the next fiscal year. Today, County Manager Wanda Greene said she’s asked every department to prepare for 5 percent budget cuts.

How should the county and city deal with these financial issues? What are some areas that you think are ripe for the cutting? What are some ways to get new revenue?

Right now, I would
cease all unnecessary capital spending programs

question every dollar of discretionary spending

cease all travel

reduce head counts by 20%

Consolidate under-utilized assets

Lease assets not in use

Sell assets that have been idled for some reasonable amount of time

Outsource most clerical and support functions

Increase excise taxes on second vehicles

Immediately terminate all outside consultant services for any discretionary projects.

Park all government owned vehicles on government lots when not in official use (excluding county sheriffs)

Increase meals and lodging taxes applicable from Friday through Sunday

Business Towing Excise Tax - tax all businesses equal to the amount charged to persons who have their vehicle towed off lots during non-business hours i.e. 8pm - 2am exemptions granted to those businesses that utilize lots during those hours.

... there is a start

As much as I hate to admit it, Gordon Smith had a ton of great ideas on his City Council application:

Reducing expenditures will be our first priority.  We will remain flexible in order to adjust to changing conditions, but we must seek immediate deep cuts.  I support pulling out of the Biltmore Avenue parking garage subsidization ($500,000 in FY 08-09), returning $400,000 from the Civic Center Capital Fund back to the general fund, postponing $1.6 million in new vehicle purchases, postponing $200,000 towards development review process technology improvements, saving $75,000 by making the municipal golf course revenue neutral, suspending the City’s $75,000 contribution towards public art and the urban trail.

It will also be worth looking at the construction of the Azalea Park Pond ($198,000) and installation of wayfinding signs in Wall St. parking garage ($50,000).

Areas that ought to be safeguarded from any cuts include:  Water Resources Fund, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Affordable Housing Infill Development Incentive, Public Safety Department, Homeless Initiative, and the Transit Services Fund.