North Carolina assumes financial control of Ronda and Rowland

The North Carolina Local Government Commission (LGC) has voted unanimously to assume financial control of two towns, Ronda in Wilkes County and Rowland in Robeson County. The decision follows determinations that neither municipality made sufficient progress in addressing severe financial distress after receiving official warnings in September.

In Ronda, officials indicated the town board has voted to begin a voluntary dissolution process, though no agreement has been reached on the method of implementation. In Rowland, while officials expressed belief that the town is moving toward solvency, the LGC determined that a clear financial path forward had not been presented.

State Treasurer Brad Briner, chair of the LGC, stated that the priority is ensuring citizens receive necessary services. He noted that the commission will act if local governments fail to fulfill their duties to constituents, acknowledging the difficulty of determining when a municipality is no longer financially viable.