2022
• The state
began sending Rocky Mount leaders Financial Performance Indicators of Concern
(FPIC) letters, signaling
early warning signs. One FPIC letter noted that the city’s operating income
for 2022 had a negative balance of $283,932, meaning expenses exceeded revenue.
The city
continued going further in debt each following year, ballooning to $5,289,039.
2023
• The FPIC
reporting continued: A 2023 letter flagged that the city’s general
fund deficit could threaten its ability to support ongoing operations.
During this period, city leaders and auditors note that a revolving
door of city managers and the departure of a long-time finance director
contributed to weakening financial oversight.
2024
• The state’s
2024 FPIC said the city had “expenditures
that exceed legal budget ordinance.”
• In August
2024, the then–City Manager Keith Rodgers Jr. resigned
after he was put on administrative leave. Rodgers had started his role in
March 2023.
June 2025
City leaders
signed off on plans to fix financial concerns raised by the state year after
year, including as
recently as June.
September
2025
Sept. 23,
2025
WRAL News
reports on the depth of Rocky Mount’s overspending and the need to reduce
spending by at least $30 million in the next 10 months. The move includes
freezing non-essential projects, pausing capital initiatives and reducing
staff, with at least 10% of full-time employees and half of part-time staff
facing layoffs.
Rocky Mount’s
savings fund went from about $100 million in 2023 to roughly $20 million by
2025.
For the city’s approximate 54,000
residents, it will also mean a bump in natural gas and electricity rates.
Estimates put the increase at about $20 per month for natural gas for the
typical household. An approximate $8 monthly increase for electricity is
expected, according to a release from the city.
Sept. 24-25,
2025
The State
Auditor’s Office confirms it is investigating the city’s finances, sending a
deputy state auditor and team to Rocky Mount.
Sept 30,
2025
WRAL
News reports that the city plans cuts to about 15 positions with the police
department and about 10 with the fire department. The city also plans for
broader departmental reductions.
October 2025
Oct 2, 2025
WRAL covers a
meeting between residents and city leaders, in which documents show that city
leaders had been alerted to financial troubles going back to at least 2022.
Oct. 7, 2025
Rocky Mount voters returned three councilmembers to their seats despite weeks of reports of financial chaos in the city.
Incumbents Tom Harris (Ward 6) and Jabaris Walker (Ward 7) defeated their challengers.
In Ward 2, Reuben Blackwell IV was running unopposed.
A single open seat, in Ward 3, was more competitive. Charles (Verb) Roberson won with 37.6% of the vote over six others.
Mayor Sandy Roberson isn’t up for reelection this year, nor are councilors for Wards 1, 4 and 5
What’s next?
The documents
obtained from the state do not explain the millions of dollars that are missing
from the town’s savings fund.
Rocky Mount
Mayor Sandy Roberson said he’s looking toward the state’s audit for clarity on
where that money went.