North Carolina Auditor Blames Former Rocky Mount Officials for Financial Crisis

Report finds 'poor personnel decisions' and 'egregious overspending' led to city's budget woes

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A new report from the North Carolina State Auditor's office has found that bad decisions and overspending by Rocky Mount's former city manager and city council are responsible for the city's current financial crisis. The audit uncovered a combination of 'poor personnel decisions' and 'egregious overspending' that contributed to the city's economic troubles, including the hiring of an unqualified city manager and enabling of excessive spending that outpaced revenues.

Why it matters

The financial troubles in Rocky Mount have eroded public trust in the local government and put a strain on residents' wallets. The state auditor's findings highlight the importance of responsible financial management and oversight by city leadership, as well as the need for thorough vetting and due diligence when hiring key officials.

The details

According to the report, Rocky Mount paid a search firm $38,000 to recruit Keith Rogers Jr. as city manager in 2022, even though he was described as a 'stretch candidate' who did not fully meet the job requirements. The city council voted to hire Rogers despite a lack of evidence that they conducted reference checks or other due diligence. Rogers then oversaw the city overspending its budget by $1 million before resigning in 2024. In the same period, Rocky Mount increased employee compensation by 27% and capital purchases by 153%, while revenues decreased by 2%, leading to a 78% drop in the city's cash and investment balance.

  • In December 2022, the Rocky Mount City Council voted to hire Keith Rogers Jr. as city manager.
  • Rogers began the city manager position in March 2023.
  • Rogers resigned from the city manager position in September 2024.
  • Between August 2023 and August 2025, Rocky Mount's cash and investment balance decreased by 78%, from approximately $100 million to just $21.8 million.
  • The North Carolina State Auditor's office started its investigation after the city admitted a budget crisis in late 2025.

The players

Keith Rogers Jr.

The former city manager of Rocky Mount, who was hired in 2022 despite being described as a 'stretch candidate' who did not fully meet the job requirements.

Dave Boliek

The North Carolina State Auditor who released the report on Rocky Mount's financial crisis.

Rocky Mount City Council

The city council that voted to hire Keith Rogers Jr. as city manager in 2022 and enabled the city's egregious overspending.

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What they’re saying

“Put simply, the city just spent more than it had. Costs were going up, while cash took a nosedive at an incredibly fast pace.”

— Dave Boliek, North Carolina State Auditor (ncnewsline.com)

“This overspending — driven by an unqualified city manager and an enabling city council — has caused tremendous financial damage to the city of Rocky Mount, the wallets of residents, and residents' confidence in their government. Rocky Mount remains far from full financial recovery.”

— Dave Boliek, North Carolina State Auditor (ncnewsline.com)

What’s next

The state auditor's office is also looking into issues with Rocky Mount's utility billing and property taxes as part of its ongoing investigation into the city's financial troubles.

The takeaway

The findings in the state auditor's report highlight the importance of responsible financial management and oversight by city leadership, as well as the need for thorough vetting and due diligence when hiring key officials. The financial crisis in Rocky Mount has eroded public trust and put a strain on residents, underscoring the consequences of poor decision-making by local government.