(The Center Square) – Embattled leaders of a North Carolina city on Wednesday pledged a plan and understanding of their financial crisis to a state oversight commission.
The Local Government Commission was direct: straighten out the city finances, or it will.
“Were the city of Rocky Mount not to be able to continue as a going concern would certainly be the largest failure of a municipality in the history of the state of North Carolina,” first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek told city officials at a meeting of the state Local Government Commission. “I wasn’t elected to manage Rocky Mount or make decisions for Rocky Mount.”
If the Local Government Commission has to assume control of the day-to-day operations of the city, “I view that as a failure of the politically elected leadership.”
He warned city elected officials that with a state takeover, they would no longer be able to make decisions about the operation of the city.
“My recommendation and my sort of expectation would be that we would have a mass resignation of City Council members,” Boliek said. “It’s not fair to the people who elected folks to represent them and make tough decisions. It’s not easy to make tough decisions. But you know what, you signed up to do it.”
The commission “summoned” Rocky Mount officials to Wednesday’s meeting to discuss finances in the city of 54,000 people.
“There are concerns about the city’s ability to pay staff, operate key services and make nearly $8.7 million in debt service expenses in fiscal year 2026-27,” first-term Republican state Treasurer Brad Briner said in a release.
City officials explained the measures they have taken to balance the budget, including raising utility rates and cutting staff. The financial problems stem from a chronic overestimation of revenues, officials explained.
“Rocky Mount leaders have made progress in their massive deficit but are still avoiding making some tough decisions about overspending,” Briner said. “It is not sustainable to ask citizens to shoulder the burden of budget mismanagement.”
Rocky Mount mayor Sandy Roberson agreed with the state auditor.
“Mr. Auditor, I will respond by saying that your representations are fair,” Roberson said. “And if we got to the point that we absolutely require the LGC to take over operations, I think we are all in agreement that it’s a failure of leadership.”
But he said the staff and City Council are committed to fixing the problems and making sure the city remains solvent.
“It’s been hard,” the mayor said. “Politics do come into play. But we have seen the light. And we are moving toward that direction.”
The city now has the administrative staff to quickly produce accurate financial projections and statemens, the mayor said.
“We have certainly gotten the memo,” he said of the warnings from the state. “We certainly understand the seriousness of this. It’s certainly embarrassing for the city. However, we have a team in place and I believe we have the responsiveness to move forward.”
