NC State Auditor: Rocky Mount overspent tens of millions under former city manager

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) — State Auditor Dave Boliek released findings from his office’s investigation into what he described as significant overspending by the City of Rocky Mount.

He said an unchecked culture of reckless spending allowed the city’s former manager to pay employees more, double-spending on capital purchases, and continue increasing expenditures even as city revenue fell.

The Office of the State Auditor found that between August 2023 and 2025, Rocky Mount’s cash and investment balances dropped from about $100 million to $21.8 million.

Boliek largely attributed the financial distress to the former city manager’s spending habits and said he shouldn’t have been hired in the first place.

Boliek said the former manager had previously served as town manager in Dumfries, Virginia, where he oversaw a $1 million budget overspend.

“What we found was a former city manager in charge of everything from carrying out policies and ordinances to managing day-to-day operations, who went unchecked and was held unaccountable for years. He was hired without due diligence. While he was employed, the city council failed to effectively monitor the significant overspending taking place,” Boliek said.

The report found capital spending increased 153% over the same two-year period, including $17 million for land intended for a casino and entertainment project that never materialized, and $11 million for a fire station redevelopment — nearly triple the original estimate.

ABC11 asked Boliek whether he believed any criminal activity occurred, given the report’s findings that the former city manager attempted to subvert the city council in several purchases. He said only that he has been in contact with state officials at all levels.

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