The City of Rocky Mount is on the brink of financial collapse, and a new state audit says "poor personnel decisions" are to blame.
State Auditor Dave Boliek released a report revealing the city’s cash reserves plummeted an "astonishing" 78% in just two years—dropping from $100 million to less than $22 million.
The audit points the finger at the city council’s unanimous decision to hire a “stretch candidate” as city manager, despite a history of budget overruns in his previous job. Under his watch, capital spending surged 153%, including $17 million for a casino complex that doesn't exist and $11 million for a single fire station.
Boliek said the mess is, “Costing local residents.”
To plug the hole, the city has eliminated 86 positions and hiked utility rates, leaving average households paying nearly $30 more every month.
Investigations into city credit cards and utility billing are ongoing.
