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Residents and businesses press Rocky Mount council for answers as budget shortfall, rate hikes sting
Summary
At a Rocky Mount City Council meeting, residents and business owners raised alarm over an alleged $30 million shortfall, called for auditing and transparency, and urged delay of retroactive utility rate hikes that a major employer says could force relocation.
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Residents and business leaders packed the public-comment period at the Rocky Mount City Council meeting to press elected officials for clarity after what speakers described as long-running financial mismanagement and sudden cost increases that they say are hitting households and employers alike.
Several speakers urged the council to produce a full accounting of what they repeatedly called a $30 million shortfall. Dr. Ku accused past city management of ‘‘financial mismanagement’’ and said the city’s finances had fallen ‘‘from about a $100,000,000 to 20,000,000,’’ a figure she presented as evidence of a crisis. Her statement was not substantiated at the meeting and no audit results were presented there.
The concern extended beyond resident testimony. Matt Rausch, co‑owner of Title Data Systems, told the council his company paid roughly $4.9 million…
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