EAST LAURINBURG — After four years without filing an audit with the state of North Carolina, officials in East Laurinburg will hold a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss financial affairs.

The town, made up of about 300 residents, was given a mandate by the Local Government Commission back in October that it must file audits for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 no later than Nov. 10 — or suffer the consequences of having its finances taken over.

It was also required that the town notify the state of who it’s financial officer was now.

That deadline, however, was missed.

“The staff of the Local Government Commission has not received a response from the town of East Laurinburg following the Oct. 6 resolution adopted by the LGC,” stated Dan Way, communications manager for State Treasurer Dale Folwell. “Staff members are determining the next steps that will be taken with regards to the town’s non-compliance with the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act.”

Folwell, who won re-election as state treasurer on Nov. 3, said back in October that the LGC was compelling East Laurinburg officials to “do some things.”

“We never like it to get to this point, but we have to have an accurate accounting of the taxes they collect,” Folwell said recently. “I want to make this very clear: We don’t want to take anyone over,” Folwell said recently. “We’re not in the business of NO, we are in the business of KNOW.”

Town officials have scheduled the virtual meeting for Monday at 6 p.m. Residents and other interested individuals can access the virtual meeting by computer, tablet or Smartphone at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join and 911560301.

Using a regular phone, access the meeting at 1-408-650-3123 or, on a supported device, tap the one-touch number of 14086503123,,911560301#

W. Curt Vincent can be reached at 910-506-3023 or cvincent@laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com. To support The Laurinburg Exchange, subscribe here: https://laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com/subscribe.