Buncombe County is considering expanding local government spending in the coming fiscal year, while Asheville city leaders are preparing for cuts to community services. This divergence in financial strategies, first reported by Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR), highlights different approaches to addressing the needs of residents in the region. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners reviewed the county’s initial budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-27 during a work session on March 24, BPR repo