RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Local Government Commission voted Tuesday, Oct. 6, to assume control of finances in Ronda and Rowland after warning both towns that they needed to act urgently to address financial distress. Ronda, in Wilkes County, showed no improvement in reports reviewed by town officials and commission staff. Town leaders voted to begin the voluntary dissolution process, and the commission unanimously voted to start assuming control. In Rowland, in Robeson County, local leaders told the commission they believed the town was moving in the right direction but remained in fiscal trouble. The commission said they did not present a clear financial plan and voted to take control of the town’s finances. The towns received notices and warnings in September directing them to take immediate steps to address their financial problems. The commission said its intervention is intended to keep bills paid and ensure residents continue receiving services. “Our priority is making sure every citizen in our state is getting the services they need,” commission Chair Brad Briner said in a statement. He said the commission would act when local governments fail to meet their responsibilities, adding that officials wanted to address the problems before either town became bankrupt. The commission’s votes place state oversight over the towns’ finances; Ronda’s separate decision to pursue voluntary dissolution signals that its local government may no longer be viable. The available information did not specify a timeline for the financial oversight or dissolution process.