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 (9)(Taxes Budget)
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.
Grant-funded Health and Human Services Programs
No local tax impact — funded entirely by opioid settlement funds structured over roughly 17-18 years.
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.
Tax Collector vacancy and interim appointment
$4.33 million of the $50.53 million levy remains unpaid; three accounts total over $500,000.
FY2025 audit results and FEMA fund overage
The county spent $164 million in FY2025 and holds available fund balance at 47% of general fund expenditures, well above its 25% target.
Haywood Community College FY 26-27 budget request
About $268,000 more in county operating funds requested for FY 26-27.
County property tax authority resolution
Aims to preserve the county's ability to set property tax rates to fund services.
Commissioner tax payment dispute
The disputed amounts are small — a $156.67 unpaid bill and a roughly $2,000 payment plan — but the dispute touches on public trust in elected officials' tax compliance.
Board of Equalization and Review appointments
This board decides property valuation appeals, which directly affect what property owners pay in taxes.
Decisions during term (0)
Recorded while Best was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
No decisions found matching Taxes Budget.
Voting record (0)(Taxes Budget)
No votes found matching Taxes Budget.