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Residents and businesses press Rocky Mount council on $30 million shortfall and proposed utility rate hikes
Summary
Residents, employees and business owners told the city council they are suffering from a recent budget crisis they say left a roughly $30 million gap, and business leaders warned that retroactive electric rate increases could force operations to leave the city.
A stream of residents, city employees and business owners at the Rocky Mount City Council meeting said the city’s recent budget shortfall and proposed utility rate increases are already harming households and local employers.
The comments, delivered during the public-comment portion of the Oct. meeting, centered on a roughly $30 million loss that speakers said left the city with a structural shortfall and prompted staff proposals to cut employee pay increases and longevity pay. Speakers urged transparency, faster audit publication and a halt to retroactive utility rate increases until the city’s finances are fully accounted for.
The comments matter because council decisions on personnel pay, utility rates and budget fixes will affect city workers, low-income residents and commercially significant employers that contribute major tax and utility revenue.
Natalie O'Ree, a resident who identified concerns about the budget, told the…
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