Starting on Wednesday, people who live in Rocky Mount will be paying more for their utilities.
The Rocky Mount City Council passed a motion to raise electric, gas, sewer and water rates by about 15%. It’s part of the city’s plan to dig itself out of a financial crisis.
Some of the people who lined up to speak said they simply cannot afford these increases.
But city officials say they have to take action quickly,
especially after getting a letter from the commission that approves financing for cities.
In this letter sent by the Local Government Commission, there is a clear message to Rocky Mount leaders. It reads, “The city is in a dire financial condition that can only be rectified by immediate and significant reductions in spending.”
Inside city hall, council members passed the motion to raise utilities to generate revenue to supplement the cuts they are already making.
“We are not just ratepayers, we are stakeholders in the future of this city,” said Cyrstal Wimes-Anderson.
“Many feel our trust has been broken and our faith in elected officials has been broken,” said one speaker.
More than 20 people lined up for the public comment period. The overarching message: they can’t afford the increases.
City manager Elton Daniels said that, for now, it puts the city on a track toward financial stability.
“I have empathy for them,” Daniels said. “I’m a resident. I live here. I pay to utilities, but still, it’s something that we all got to kind of go through, and we’ll look for other ways that could possibly reduce that rate, possibly in the future.”
On Wednesday, multiple city officials will be at the LGC meeting in Raleigh, where they are expected to present a more comprehensive financial recovery plan