Ronda · Wilkes County News
Ronda Faces 30-Day State Deadline as Financial Crisis Deepens
North Carolina’s Local Government Commission has formally warned the Town of Ronda over persistent financial problems and ordered the Wilkes County municipality to submit a corrective action plan within 30 days.
What Ronda Residents Need to Know
RONDA, N.C. — The financial crisis facing the Town of Ronda has entered a more serious stage after North Carolina’s Local Government Commission formally approved a Resolution of Notice and Warning for the Wilkes County town on September 1.
The action requires Ronda to provide the commission with a plan explaining how it will address identified financial and statutory problems within 30 days.
The state action does not mean Ronda has been dissolved, and the Local Government Commission has not yet taken control of the town’s finances. However, state officials warned that continued failure to correct the problems could ultimately lead the commission to exercise its authority to assume control of Ronda’s financial affairs.
State Says Ronda’s Problems Have Continued for Years
According to the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Ronda has been on the Local Government Commission’s Unit Assistance List since 2015.
The state identified several continuing concerns:
- Repeated late financial audits
- Budget violations
- Problems involving federal payroll-tax payments
- Persistent deficits in Ronda’s Water and Sewer Fund
- Other financial-management deficiencies
The Notice and Warning directs the town to take corrective action and explain how those deficiencies will be addressed.
State Treasurer Warns There Is “Not a Lot of Time”
State Treasurer Brad Briner, who chairs the Local Government Commission, made clear during the September 1 meeting that officials consider Ronda’s situation urgent.
“There is not a lot of time. We are tasked with making sure that no municipalities in North Carolina go bankrupt, and we are perilously close here.”
Briner also said that if the commission does not receive satisfactory answers within the next 30 days, he would be willing to revisit the matter at the commission’s next meeting and indicated that the discussion could turn toward dissolution unless something changes substantially for the better.
The Local Government Commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Town Officials Said Ronda Was Losing About $25,000 a Month
Ronda’s financial problems became a major public issue in August when town officials began openly discussing whether the municipality could continue operating.
Kevin Reece, who was serving as Ronda’s acting mayor, told WFDD/WUNC in August that the town was losing approximately $25,000 per month.
Reece said that even if the town eliminated every service it provided, the savings still would not fully cover the monthly shortfall.
He also pointed to Ronda’s aging water system as a major source of financial pressure. Repeated failures of old water lines, repair expenses, limited equipment and staffing problems had consumed money from the town’s general fund.
State Officials Had Already Urged Ronda to Consider Dissolution
Before Tuesday’s formal Local Government Commission action, state officials had already urged Ronda leaders to consider voluntarily dissolving the town’s municipal charter.
A letter sent to town officials cited repeated overspending on the water system, penalties from the IRS connected with late payroll-tax payments and critically low cash reserves. The letter described the town as “no longer viable” and recommended beginning the dissolution process.
Town leaders had hoped residents could decide Ronda’s future through a public referendum. Commissioners voted in August to ask state lawmakers to place the question before voters.
But officials were later told that the referendum process could not be completed quickly enough. State officials warned that Ronda could run out of money before a vote could be held.
Residents Spoke Out at an Emergency Meeting
Ronda commissioners held an emergency meeting on August 29 as residents expressed concerns about the possibility of losing the town’s charter.
Following the meeting, town leaders said they intended to continue discussions with state officials and ask for additional time to determine whether Ronda could find another path forward.
The September 1 Notice and Warning now puts a formal timetable on that effort.
How the Ronda Financial Crisis Reached This Point
Ronda remains on the Local Government Commission’s Unit Assistance List because of ongoing financial-management concerns.
Town officials publicly disclose severe financial problems, including an estimated monthly shortfall of about $25,000.
Ronda commissioners vote to seek a referendum that would allow residents to decide whether the town should dissolve.
State officials urge Ronda to begin voluntary dissolution, saying the town is no longer financially viable.
Commissioners hold an emergency public meeting and say they will continue discussions with state officials while seeking more time.
The Local Government Commission formally approves a Notice and Warning and gives Ronda 30 days to submit a corrective action plan.
The Local Government Commission is scheduled to meet again. State Treasurer Brad Briner has indicated dissolution could be part of the discussion if the town’s situation does not improve.
What Happens Next?
Ronda must now prepare a plan explaining how it intends to correct the financial problems identified by the state. The next major date is the Local Government Commission meeting on October 6.
The Wilkesboros will continue following developments affecting Ronda residents and the future of the town.
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Sources
- North Carolina Department of State Treasurer — September 1, 2026
- North Carolina Local Government Commission meeting schedule
- WFDD/WUNC — Ronda residents could vote on whether to dissolve the town
- WFDD/WUNC — State leaders urge town of Ronda to dissolve
- WXII — Ronda leaders continue dissolution talks following emergency meeting
