Summary: The Buncombe County Commission is considering revisions to its Affordable Housing Services and Commercial Hauler Rebate Programs, and is proposing to end longevity pay for new hires.

The Facts: On Tuesday, December 2, the Buncombe County Commission will vote on three different agenda items:

• Affordable Housing Services Program (AHSP) revisions. There is a proposal to reallocate existing AHSP funds (~$3.1 million) to support 10 projects: 60 rental units, 5 homeownership units, downpayment assistance, emergency repairs, and rental assistance. Staff suggests that this will ensure “comprehensive opportunities for affordable and safe housing” for low- and moderate-income residents. The goal is to use existing funds to maximize impact across housing needs (rental, ownership, emergency repair, shelter).
• The termination of a rebate program for commercial waste haulers. Staff state that ending the rebate “promotes equity and competitive neutrality among all haulers.” The rebate currently benefits only a small number of large haulers, and so the proposal to end it is designed to restore fairness among all haulers.
• Ending longevity pay for new hires. The County’s Personnel Ordinance defines “longevity pay” as an annual lump-sum or percentage-based pay bonus for employees based on their years of continuous service with Buncombe County. The proposed amendment would end longevity pay eligibility for new hires (i.e., employees hired on or after a certain date would no longer receive longevity payments, or their eligibility would change substantially).

Our Assessment: We see positive elements in some of these policy proposals. For example, the AHSP guidelines identify BIPOC households as a priority population, signaling a commitment to reducing racial housing disparities. Another example: the existing commercial waste hauling rebate only benefits large companies, and we appreciate the goal of removing it in order to “(promote) equity and competitive neutrality.”

However, we also have questions and concerns about these policy changes.

1. Affordable Housing Services Program (AHSP). Housing is one of the most significant racial equity issues in Buncombe County due to historic displacement, disproportionate rent burden, and lower Black homeownership rates. This program’s structure influences which developers and households can benefit from affordable housing investments, and we see a risk of racial disparities.
   • Reimbursement-only funding can exclude or disadvantage BIPOC-led developers and small community-based organizations, who typically have less access to capital.
   • Emphasis on larger, multi-unit developments may favor large, historically white-led organizations over culturally grounded, community-rooted groups.
   • Disaster displacement protections may inadequately support Black renters, who are more likely to experience displacement but less likely to receive post-disaster assistance.
   • Loan and lien structures may have disproportionate consequences for low-wealth Black homeowners, increasing risk of future displacement.
2. Termination of the Commercial Hauler Rebate Program. Waste management policy can have racialized impacts: in many communities, neighborhoods with higher percentages of Black and Latinx residents face higher waste costs, fewer provider options, or poorer-quality service. We’re concerned that this plan as presented has:
   • No analysis of whether large haulers will pass costs to customers in zip codes with higher Black or Latinx populations.
   • No assessment of whether small haulers serving communities of color will face increased operational burdens.
   • No reinvestment plan that directly addresses racialized disparities in waste access or cost.
3. Ending Longevity Pay for New Hires. Racial pay gaps persist across public sector employment, including in Buncombe County. Black employees and employees of color are statistically more likely to be concentrated in lower-paid positions and may rely more heavily on longevity pay as a stabilizing benefit. We’re concerned that creating two compensation tracks (existing employees vs. new hires) might widen racial pay disparities over time.
   

Our Proposal: To address the concerns listed above, we recommend the following additions or modifications to the proposed policies:

1. Affordable Housing Services Program (AHSP)
   • Because BIPOC-led developers and small community-based organizations typically have less access to capital and could be excluded from these opportunities, we propose the creation of a BIPOC Developer and Community Partner Track with advance funding options (not reimbursement-only), dedicated capacity-building grants, and technical assistance in financial and contracting requirements.
   • To address other potential inequities in housing through this program, Buncombe County should track racial demographic outcomes for all households served through AHSP.
2. Termination of the Commercial Hauler Rebate Program
   • To address potential unintended equity impacts, Buncombe County should conduct a racialized cost impact review, including waste service pricing by zip code.
   • They should also publish an annual equity monitoring report tracking any disproportionate price increases affecting communities of color.
   • They should commit to reinvest the savings from discontinuing the rebates into:
     • Outreach and support for minority-owned haulers,
     • Community cleanup programs in historically Black neighborhoods,
     • Subsidized waste services in areas with higher BIPOC populations.
3. Ending Longevity Pay for New Hires
   • To address potential unintended equity impacts, Buncombe County should initiate a racial pay equity audit before eliminating longevity pay.
   • They should also establish a racial equity dashboard tracking wage progression and retention for BIPOC employees.

These revisions and additions to the existing plans will ensure that each of these policies reduces racial inequities, rather than inadvertently increasing them.

The Ask: We invited you to join us in calling on Buncombe County leaders to make these important improvements before approving these three agenda items.

Report Back

The Buncombe County Commission approved all three items.

Total GAP Supporter Actions Taken: 11

Recipients and Responses:

Buncombe County Commission

• County Manager Avril Pinder: No response
• County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards: No response
• County Commissioner Al Whitesides: No response
• County Commissioner Drew Ball: No response
• County Commissioner Jennifer Horton: No response
• County Commissioner Martin Moore: No response
• County Commissioner Parker Sloane: No response
• County Commissioner Terri Wells: No response