Asheville Faces Up to $30 Million Budget Gap, Residents Brace for Service Cuts and Tax Increases

ASHEVILLE — City leaders are confronting a projected budget shortfall of up to $30 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, a gap that officials say will almost certainly require a combination of tax increases, higher fees, and cuts to city services.The shortfall stems largely from one-time revenue fixes used to balance the current budget that cannot be repeated, compounded by rising costs in employee health care, public transit contracts, public safety staffing, and security at community centers.Ci