Buncombe County’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 is projected to exceed $500 million, driven by rising costs, economic uncertainty, and growing demands for county services. Commissioners are in the initial stages of planning. County staff presented a preliminary budget totaling more than $504 million in general fund spending during a work session on March 24, according to 828newsNOW (rewindasheville.com). This represents an increase of more than 15 percent compared to the current budget