ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County commissioners will get updates on employee pay, school funding recommendations, justice services and several county policies during a briefing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ briefing begins at 3 p.m. June 2 in the first-floor conference room at 200 College St. A board meeting will follow at 5 p.m.
Among the topics expected to generate discussion is a proposal to streamline how certain county policies are approved.
According to county staff, 19 policies currently require board approval, but six of those policies are not specifically mandated by state statute. County leaders say shifting those policies to county manager oversight could make operations more efficient while preserving the board’s role in governance and long-term planning.
County staff are recommending that six internal administrative policies currently approved by commissioners instead be approved by the county manager. Officials say the change would allow commissioners to focus more on strategic oversight while speeding up administrative decision-making.
Two of the policies under review include the county’s Sustainable Fleet Policy and its Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance Policy.
The Sustainable Fleet Policy supports Buncombe County’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption. The policy guides vehicle purchases, promotes route optimization and fleet right-sizing, and encourages the use of technology to improve efficiency. Staff say the proposed revisions largely align the policy language with current practices while moving operational details into procedural documents.
The PCI Compliance Policy governs how the county protects credit card data and complies with industry security standards. Updates reflect the latest PCI Data Security Standard requirements, including employee training, encryption, system monitoring and vendor compliance measures.
County staff note that neither policy is required by state law to receive commissioner approval, making them candidates for administrative approval by the county manager.
Commissioners will also receive an update on the county’s Fiscal Year 2027 salary schedule.
