Buncombe County Commissioners voted to fall back on outdated 2021 property values rather than adopt updated 2026 numbers, preserving the FY27 budget approved back in June.

The decision follows weeks of confusion caused by new state legislation. One law froze the use of 2026 property values for select counties, including Buncombe, reverting to 2021 figures. A follow-up bill offered an exception for Helene-affected counties — but only if they went revenue-neutral, which would've slashed nearly $25 million from the county's already-approved budget.

Rather than take that hit, commissioners raised the tax rate to 61.54 cents per $100 of assessed value, using 2021 values to keep education funding, service levels, and community investments intact. It also forced commissioners to increase tax rates for Asheville City Schools and the Unified Fire District.

What does this mean for property owners?

Under the new tax rate, homeowners whose property values rose the least will end up paying more, while those whose values rose the most will pay less. Take this example, spelled out from the Asheville Citizen-Times — a $350,000 home that only went up 25% in value would pay about $260 more, but if that same home jumped 60% in value, one would pay about $260 less.

Essentially, homeowners with smaller value increases are helping cover a tax break for those with bigger increases, as the county's total property tax revenue rises 16%, its biggest jump in nearly 20 years, to help fund a record $484 million budget.

To break it down further, here's a list of need-to-knows shared by the county.