Comments by Auditor | Eastern NC Now
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Commented on What's all the chatter about?I have a genuine question - how can we possibly entertain lowering property taxes when the 2023 - 2024 audit report indicated that the General Fund had to take $1.4M from the Electric Fund? Granted, the 2024 - 2025 audit report has not been released to the public, but I don't expect the transfer to be much different.
That is quite a shortfall to overcome while still cutting General Fund revenues. Especially considering the fact that our City already experiences frequent power outages. It seems to me that the Electric Fund could use all the help it can get.
Commented: Friday, February 20th, 2026 @ 10:47 am
By: Auditor
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Commented on An update from the frontConcerned Taxpayer, it will be interesting to see the audit report if that is truly the case. Reconciling the bank accounts is one of the most basic accounting functions. To not even know how much cash the City has would mean a lot more was done than shredding documents. I am also curious to know who in the Finance Department you think is unqualified. I've always heard good things about Tammy Swindell's abilities. Martin Starnes is also a reputable governmental auditor. Are you suggesting that issues started in FYE25, or do you think there is a continuing "mess" that they have missed or ignored?
If nefarious things are occurring in the Finance Department to the extent that you seem to be suggesting, I would expect to see significant findings in the audit report, as well as criminal charges. The actions that you are suggesting are fraudulent.
Commented: Friday, January 9th, 2026 @ 5:07 pm
By: Auditor
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Commented on An update from the frontI am a citizen who spent years auditing municipalities. You do not have to have a completed audit report to know how much money the City has or spent in the previous fiscal year. The City is required to maintain its books "free of material misstatement". In fact, the state forbids auditors from making substantial changes to a municipality's books without a corresponding "write-up". If a city does not have staff capable of maintaining its books, then they typically hire an outside firm to make sure that balances are reasonable. Either way, the auditor will make minimal changes to the City's financial data, if any.
Everything you need to know is held within the City's accounting system. Including how much money was spent, budget to actual comparisons, cash balances, debt balances, and fund balances. With that information, you can certainly pass a budget. Either you don't understand governmental accounting or you are purposefully misleading citizens. I'm not sure which worries me more
Commented: Friday, January 9th, 2026 @ 2:56 pm
By: Auditor
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