Martinsville City Council Approves Release of Forensic Audit Report

Council also considers new purchasing policies and hears updates on opioid abatement and other initiatives.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:04pm

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After a closed-door meeting, the Martinsville City Council unanimously voted to authorize the release of a forthcoming forensic audit report at their next meeting on April 14. The council also discussed changes to the city's purchasing policies, including eliminating purchase cards and adding more oversight and accountability measures.

Why it matters

The forensic audit and workplace investigation have been a source of controversy in Martinsville, with some council members pushing for full transparency. The decision to release the audit report is seen as a step towards addressing concerns about financial management and restoring public trust.

The details

During the March 30 closed session, the council approved a motion to have the city attorney and city manager prepare the forensic audit report for release at the next council meeting on April 14. The council also agreed to add a closed session to that meeting to continue addressing a separate workplace investigation. Additionally, the council heard updates on changes to the city's purchasing policies, including eliminating purchase cards, requiring CFO review of all invoices, and adding more approval layers for spending.

  • The council met in a special closed session on March 30 to discuss the forensic audit and workplace investigation.
  • The council plans to release the forensic audit report at their next meeting on April 14.

The players

Martinsville City Council

The governing body of the city of Martinsville, Virginia, which unanimously voted to release the forthcoming forensic audit report.

Rob Fincher

The Martinsville City Manager, who outlined sweeping changes to the city's purchasing policies to add more oversight and accountability.

Sands Anderson

The Martinsville City Attorney, who was authorized to prepare the forensic audit report for release.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to prepare the forensic audit for release.”

— Kathy Lawson, Vice Mayor

“I just want to get to the right outcome. I always knew we were going to get to this point one way or another. I'm relieved to have gotten there the right way, which was by a majority vote of council.”

— Aaron Rawls, Council Member

“You're not just handing them out like candy. There's a whole case management process.”

— Gene Teague, Council Member

What’s next

The Martinsville City Council plans to release the forensic audit report at their next meeting on April 14, where they will also continue discussing the workplace investigation in a closed session.

The takeaway

The decision to release the forensic audit report represents a step towards transparency and accountability in Martinsville's local government, as the council works to address concerns about financial management and restore public trust.