GOP Congressional candidate and Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson revealed his city has run a monthly deficit of millions.
In a video released Tuesday, Roberson said a fiscal review of city finances found “deeply troubling” over-spending that will require a 10% reduction in the city’s full-time workforce as officials look to cut $30 million in spending in the municipality of about 55,000 residents.
“We understand that many of you are frustrated and concerned,” Roberson said. “We share those feelings while we cannot undo the past, we are determined to chart a responsible and transparent path forward.”
Beyond the spending cuts, Roberson also said the city must now raise utility rates, including, for the average household, a $20 hike in monthly natural gas bills and an $8 jump in electricity fees, meaning a $336-increase in annual costs to every household in the city.
The fiscal crisis undermines a key message of Roberson’s campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Don Davis, a Snow Hill Democrat being targeted this election cycle by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The fiscal calamity to date has only been covered by local media. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) said the mismanagement of the city’s finances should concern all voters in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
“Maybe Roberson should spend less time wining and dining to fulfill his political pipedreams and more time cleaning up his mess,” said Madison Andrus, a spokesperson for the DCCC. “Roberson’s absolute refusal to take responsibility shows a complete lack of accountability – the people of Rocky Mount deserve better and the people of eastern North Carolina don’t want it.”
Roberson just last month touted his record as Mayor of Rocky Mount as evidence he had the background to rein in federal spending.
“As Mayor of Rocky Mount, I know what it takes to deliver real results—balancing budgets, creating jobs, and making our communities safer,” Roberson posted on X in August. “In Congress, I’ll bring the same commitment to service and solutions for NC-01.”
Roberson in his video blamed the city’s financial situation on prior City Manager Keith Rogers, who resigned last year after being put on administrative leave, according to the Rocky Mount Telegram. The most comprehensive review of the city’s finances was conducted by interim City Manager Elton Daniels, the local newspaper reported.
“Unfortunately, the previous administration failed to provide full or accurate information to me or to counsel, that lack of transparency has prevented corrective actions from being taken sooner,” Roberson said in his video. “The situation threatens our ability to provide the essential services our residents rely on, police and fire protection, waste collection and utilities.”
But Roberson was Mayor of the city during Rogers’ entire tenure leading the city. He won election in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023, the same year Rogers was hired as City Manager.
Roberson’s campaign for Congress, meanwhile, reported nearly $2.3 million in fundraising through the end of June this year, more than double Davis’ fundraising this cycle to date, though the bulk of it comes from $2 million in loans made by the candidate.
As Mayor, Roberson has touted economic growth in the city and efforts to attract and grow business.
But it’s unclear whether any of those efforts can continue.
“To stabilize our finances, we will make difficult but necessary reductions,” he said, “and these will include freezing many capital projects, eliminating non essential travel, and reducing spending on marketing, reducing our part time workforce about half, laying off approximately 10% of our full time employees.”
No other Republican candidate has reported any fundraising in the congressional district.
