Comments by Nick Fritz | Eastern NC Now

Auditor, you are certainly correct that this information is held inside the city's books. Auditors can not add or delete information, only verify and perhaps reorganize. The problem is that the books are not open to the public. Since November 4th, I've requested three simple bits of information several times: 1. If any debt has been added during this fiscal year, and what our current total debt is. 2. What percentage of the budgeted amounts has been spent in each fund and how much we are below budget. 3. If we wanted to pay off any debt, how much is unrestricted and available for us to do so. When I asked Greenville for this information I received it in a few hours. I have yet to receive it from Washington.

Your accusation of my ignorance or deception is curious. I do not claim to be anything more than a citizen-representative reporting back to my fellow citizens. While I am certainly not a municipal accountant, and I suspect neither are the other 99.99% of residents and former city councilmen and mayors, I have a rudimentary grasp of finance and accounting. Like most, I rely on the high-paid director of finance, the finance department, and the expensive outside annual audit for information. When none of that information is supplied expeditiously or intelligibly, I have little recourse except to become suspcious and seek outside opinions. If you have this skillset, I highly encourage you to investigate and I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

My goals are pretty straightforward. I want to lower our property tax rate and naturally the budget is a fairly big part of that. The audit is inordinately important to me because I cannot get these numbers from our finance department and I'm trusting that I will get them from the auditors.

I do not leap to the conclusion that things are nefarious. The state auditor said that sloppiness is far more common than graft. What I am saying is that this information has been elusive. I cannot speak to past experience or history, I can only speak to my personal experience since November 4th. And I intend to continue relaying that experience openly to all who care to hear about it. I appreciate your reading and I appreciate any advice and criticism.

Commented: Friday, January 9th, 2026 @ 6:03 pm By: Nick Fritz

Stan, we have a real opportunity during this election. Lou Hodges is not running; William Pitt withdrew from the race; and Brooks barely skated in last time. That's three potential seats. If the conservatives in Washington really turn out this year the Republicans will control the Washington City Council for the first time in living memory. We can accomplish amazing things. If we use that wave of enthusiasm we can tip the scales during the County Commisioners race and we can have the the city and county controlled by conservatives! This is the year to make great things happen! Let's ruduce property tax to nearly zero percent, trim the budget by 10%, cut utility costs by 10%, and ferret out all corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse!

Commented: Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 @ 6:03 pm By: Nick Fritz

Washingtonian: much to the chagrin of those encouraging me to run for office, I love engaging with people on ideas! I am not running for office to get my name elected. I am runnning because I want to change things. If the citizens support my ideals and ideas then I'll be elected. If they don't then I won't. But I cannot and will not skirt around my principles in the hopes of winning votes. So here we go.. I've seen a lot of grumbles, but I have yet to see any practical advice. If you were elected tomorrow onto the city council, what would you do?

Commented: Saturday, June 21st, 2025 @ 10:15 am By: Nick Fritz

Washingtonian: tone doesn't come across in these types of messages, but my tone is always one of jovial good fun. You don't know me, but I hope to get to know you. Your skepticism, doubt, and criticism are invited and appreciated. I suspect we'll be fast friends in time.

I have a great deal of confidence in my convictions, though I always try to remain open to new ideas. Is defending conviction 'defensive'? Only if I'm closed to the idea of being persuaded differently. I am not. Quite the contrary. I invite you to move me from my convictions. But I haven't formed them lightly. You've questioned my idea about housing. I'm asking you for a better solution. Do you have one Washingtonian?

Conversely, you initially commented on my green opinion of the City Manager. In my on-going quest to understand local politics, I've come across the salaries of all Beaufort County employees. The City and County Managers both make in excess of $200k per year. That's five times the median household income in this area and 4 times higher than the average County/City Managaer in the country. There's a teacher at the Montessori whose salary was $225k. Every county & city contract should be bid out regularly. When do these jobs get put out for bid? I think it's time. I cannot speak on the character of any of these people. I don't know them more than superficially. But business is business.

Commented: Thursday, June 19th, 2025 @ 11:40 am By: Nick Fritz

Washingtonian, you misread my paper. I am not advocating giving people houses, I am advocating thinking of new solutions. You ask, is it conservative to give people houses. I ask you, is it the conservative position to build people houses and then pay for the upkeep indefinitely? The City of Washington is paying to upkeep hundreds of homes; paying the utilities on these homes; collecting nearly no rent on these homes. This is pure socialism. When I say that the 'city of washington' is paying, I mean you, me, and the tax-paying base. What is a better solution, to pay for 300+ homes indefinitely or to give them away to those we profess to be helping? I am not in favor of expanding subsidized housing. Exactly the opposite. What is the best way for local government to get out of the subsidized housing business? We cannot sell these homes out from under the poor. That would never pass. It would likely never pass to give them away!! Currently the conservative postion is identical to the liberal position: indefinite socialism. I invite your ideas to solutions on this and every topic.

Commented: Thursday, June 19th, 2025 @ 7:05 am By: Nick Fritz