News

Newly adopted budget appropriates $37 million for Henderson County

Jennifer Balkcom

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 23, 2023

The 2023-24 budget adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly includes $37 million in 18 separate grants for public water and sewer, flood resiliency, emergency services, rural fire & rescue departments and nonprofits, state Rep. Jennifer Capps Balkcom announced.

The budget appropriates $30 billion to fund new projects across the state, including significant investments in water and sewer improvements, transportation, school safety, teacher and state employee raises, and economic development.

The budget includes these appropriations for Henderson County:

• $14.75 million for Hendersonville city water & sewer
• $14 million for Henderson County Flood Resiliency Project
• $2.34 million for Blue Ridge Community College
• $2 million for Henderson County Agricultural Services
• $1 million for Henderson County EMS
• $600,000 for Gerton Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue, Inc.
• $450,000 for Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue, Inc.
• $416,000 for Henderson County Sheriff’s Office
• $300,000 for Angel’s Watch Foster Care Program
• $250,000 for Edneyville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Inc.
• $235,000 for Town of Fletcher Police Department
• $183,381 for St. Gerard House
• $130,000 for Mills River Fire & Rescue Department
• $120,000 for Dana Community Center
• $105,000 for Henderson County Equipment
• $100,000 for Saluda Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc.
• $100,000 for Henderson County for Ecusta Trail
• $40,000 for Henderson County Library

Over the biennium, the legislation cuts taxes by $1.2 billion for families and businesses, ensuring hardworking citizens can keep more of their hard-earned money, Balkcom said, while the state's rainy-day fund grows to nearly $5 billion and could be used in response to potential economic downturns and natural disasters. Gov. Roy Cooper, who got one of his highest priorities, Medicaid expansion, but also had to accept numerous changes that stripped him of power, announced that he would not veto the spending plan.

“As a freshman lawmaker, it was exciting to participate in the budget process and secure critical funding for our local communities,” Balkcom said. “This is a great budget that will improve the lives of countless North Carolinians.” The budget also includes additional funding for teacher pay supplements in rural and underserved areas. This will bring a yearly pay boost of $4,441 for Henderson County teachers. Statewide, the budget also provides:

• 7.4 percent raise for teachers
• 7 percent raise for state employees
• 9 percent raise for bus drivers
• 4 percent cost-of-living bonus for state retirees
• Universal private K-12 school tuition assistance
• $2 billion for water and sewer improvement projects
• $620 million for behavioral mental health programs
• $70 million for school safety grants