Letter to the Editor: Says it’s time for Charles City citizens to hold local government accountable

Charles City County is in serious financial trouble.

One only has to look at the past several years of audits to understand why. Leadership has overspent revenues every year since 2021, culminating in nearly $8 million overspent in 2024 alone. Fund balances have been depleted, and the county had to take out a $5 million loan last year to make payroll. In four short years, county leadership has reduced a financially stable county to near bankruptcy.

County leadership does not seem to recognize the seriousness of the financial problems and has not taken sufficient actions so far. Even after being urged to make changes by the county’s own financial advisor, leadership seems content with more of the same. In May, the Board of Supervisors approved a budget that does not pay back the $5 million loan and does not reduce the ongoing operating and spending for the county. In June, the Board of Supervisors approved appropriations at a spending rate that would overspend the budget by $4 million.

It is crystal clear that the only way to right the ship in the near term is with spending cuts and strong financial controls. We cannot wait for business development efforts to start paying off 3-5 years from now. We need to take action now!

It is time for Charles City County citizens to get involved. Come to the county meetings, speak up, and demand transparent financial information and fiscal responsibility from your county leaders. If you can’t make the meetings, call or email your county supervisor and county administrator. Make your expectations known!

Dorene Billingsley
Charles City