Is the City on the state’s Unit Assistance List (UAL)? What is that?

Q: Is the City on the state’s Unit Assistance List (UAL)? What is that?

Yes. In 2024, Bessemer City was placed on the North Carolina Local Government Commission's (LGC) Unit Assistance List (UAL) due to financial performance indicators. The UAL is a tool developed by the LGC, part of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, to identify and assist local government units (for example counties, municipalities, and utility districts) facing financial or governance challenges. The UAL is used to: Highlight units with financial concerns, such as low general fund balances, poor water/sewer fund liquidity, insufficient income or cash flow, or weak internal controls. Identify units that have failed to submit audited financial statements within the timeframe required by N.C.G.S. § 159-34(a). Prioritize oversight and allocate LGC staff resources for guidance and fiscal monitoring. If a unit does not address the issues that led to its inclusion on the UAL, the LGC may assume control of its financial operations. This authority includes impounding records, levying taxes, managing revenues, and adopting budgets. In severe cases, continued non-compliance can result in the revocation of a municipality's charter. The most recent Unit Assistance List and related audit status information are available on the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer's website.

Yes

Yes. In 2024, Bessemer City was placed on the North Carolina Local Government Commission’s (LGC) Unit Assistance List (UAL) due to financial performance indicators.

The UAL is a tool developed by the LGC, part of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, to identify and assist local government units (for example counties, municipalities, and utility districts) facing financial or governance challenges.

The UAL is used to:

Highlight units with financial concerns, such as low general fund balances, poor water/sewer fund liquidity, insufficient income or cash flow, or weak internal controls.
Identify units that have failed to submit audited financial statements within the timeframe required by N.C.G.S. § 159-34(a).
Prioritize oversight and allocate LGC staff resources for guidance and fiscal monitoring.

If a unit does not address the issues that led to its inclusion on the UAL, the LGC may assume control of its financial operations. This authority includes impounding records, levying taxes, managing revenues, and adopting budgets. In severe cases, continued non-compliance can result in the revocation of a municipality’s charter.

The most recent Unit Assistance List and related audit status information are available on the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer’s website.

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