Commissioner· 2022-12-05–2026-12-07 (current term: elected Nov 2022; sworn in Monday Dec 5 2022 per The Mountaineer Dec 7 2022 and N.C.G.S. § 153A-26 which has county commissioners take the oath and assume office on the first Monday in December after the general election, statute text read at ncleg.gov; end = first Monday in December 2026 when the successor is seated; first-office day before this term not sourced)
Jennifer M. Best
Haywood County
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 8
- Total speaking time
- 57:32
- Avg per meeting
- 7:12
- Segments
- 657
Want every word Best has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Best said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
County fiscal pressures from Hurricane Helene and lost papermill tax base
About $33 million in FEMA buyout funding requested; $30 million in public assistance obligated so far.
$3M school funding request and potential property tax increase
A $3 million increase in county funding — roughly $460 more per pupil — that commissioners say could drive a property tax increase.
Grant-funded Health and Human Services Programs
No local tax impact — funded entirely by opioid settlement funds structured over roughly 17-18 years.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Expansion
Proper waste routing is intended to minimize future rate increases for taxpayers.
2027 Property Revaluation and Schedule of Values
New property values effective January 1, 2027 will determine individual tax bills; most properties will see increases after a six-year gap since the last revaluation.
Waynesville Charity Horse Show Donation to Meals on Wheels
$13,500 donated to Meals on Wheels for meals to eligible seniors.
Economic Development and Workforce Training Wins
Job additions include 43 positions from the Giles Building reuse, 50 from Drake Software, 35 from Velocity Truck Centers, and 16 from Boojum Brewery.
Jail expansion costs and 'jails over schools' debate
Most equipment was funded by grants, donations, or asset forfeiture, keeping the burden off county taxpayers; the board also approved a $5,000 donation-funded budget amendment.
town manager appointment
No specific dollar impact is attached to the hire, but the manager's budget decisions could affect town spending priorities.
municipal election results
Your town's property tax rate and spending priorities now rest with a new set of hands, though the real money decisions won't land until the next budget cycle.
Free industrial park land for two local businesses
Land valued at $150,000 and $130,000 is conveyed at no cost, against projected ten-year revenues of $218,200 and $170,000.
Affordable housing and the revolving loan fund
The county accepted a $625,691 FY26 HUD HOME allocation, and the consortium manages roughly $600,000 annually plus $1.96 million in HOME-ARP funds.
Farmland preservation funding squeeze
Rollback taxes could add roughly $65,000 per $1 million of farmland sold to a preservation fund, per one speaker's estimate.
Brown Hollow conservation easement violation
Little East Fork camper encampment and illegal discharge
No direct county cost identified yet; enforcement is being handled through existing legal and health department processes.
Planning Board vacancies
Canton-Clyde-Waynesville emergency water interconnect
County contributes $2.08 million from a post-Tropical Storm Fred economic development grant; towns' shares are largely forgivable state loans.
Justice Center bag prohibition
Regional healthcare pressure on Mission Health/HCA
Septic permitting complaint
Decisions during term (107)
Recorded while Best was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Move Discussion/Adjustment to Agenda before Public Comment
Remove Medical Insurance Plan Update and reschedule to October 5
Consent Agenda (14 items)
HHSA budget amendment — $636,798 fund balance roll-forward
Adjournment
Agenda adjustment — revised economic development resolutions
Consent Agenda (minutes, Tuscola HVAC funds, ASPCA grant)
Southwestern NC HOME Consortium 2025 projects
Settlement of Collections 2025-2026
Pisgah Electrical Services land conveyance resolution
Willow Hill Soap Company land conveyance resolution
Reappointment of Jean Dilley to Library Board
Appointment of Levi Cullen as Assistant Tax Assessor
Request approval of July 20, 2026 special meeting minutes and regular meeting minutes
Adjournment
Agenda adjustment — Planning Board farmer and at-large appointments
Consent Agenda (11 items)
Resolution Honoring K9 Bruno
Sheriff budget amendment — $30,000 for replacement K9
Reappointment of Kathy Lalonde to Waynesville Planning Board (ETJ)
Voting record (52)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.