Watts Takes the Helm: Columbus County Appoints Board Chairman as Interim Manager Amid Budget Crunch

June 3, 2026 BC News Staff Columbus County, Government, News 0

Outgoing Manager Eddie Madden Delivers Final Warning on Deficits and Reserve Spending as Hard June 30 Budget Deadline Looms

WHITEVILLE, NC — The Columbus County Board of Commissioners took decisive action Monday night to stabilize county leadership during a pivotal fiscal transition, appointing Board Chairman Brent Watts to serve as interim county manager.

The appointment came during the board’s June 1 meeting, following a heavily attended public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget and just days before outgoing County Manager Eddie Madden’s official departure on Friday, June 5.

Watts will step directly into the administrative driver’s seat to bridge the leadership gap as the county faces some of its toughest financial decisions in years.

A High-Stakes Transition

The leadership change comes at a critical juncture. Outgoing manager Eddie Madden, who accepted a position in Elizabethtown, used his final budget presentation to deliver a blunt warning to the board regarding Columbus County’s financial trajectory.

While the proposed FY 2026–2027 budget honors the board’s directive to maintain current property tax rates without an increase, Madden cautioned that the status quo is increasingly unsustainable. The county’s bottom line has been heavily impacted by a $2 million loss in tax revenue stemming from the partial closure of the International Paper plant, leaving local revenues flat at roughly $30 million.

To balance the budget without raising taxes, the county has repeatedly relied on dipping into its fund balance – a practice Madden warned cannot continue indefinitely without forcing severe cuts to public services or operational infrastructure.

Watts to Guide Budget to the Finish Line

By appointing Chairman Watts to the interim administrative role, commissioners opted for continuity and deep institutional knowledge. Watts is already intimately familiar with the county’s current negotiations, departmental needs, and the moving parts of the unfolding budget cycle.

His immediate and most pressing task will be guiding the county through the remainder of the budget adoption process. By North Carolina statute, the Board of Commissioners faces a hard deadline of June 30 to officially adopt the finalized FY 2026–2027 budget.

In addition to balancing the immediate fiscal crunch, Watts will oversee daily county operations and help steady local government functions while the board outlines a formal search process for a permanent, full-time successor.

Publisher’s Note:

As Columbus County navigates this rapid leadership transition and a tight budget cycle, BC News will continue to monitor the commissioners’ upcoming work sessions.

Local governance works best when citizens stay informed. We will provide updates on the budget’s final adoption and the status of the permanent county manager search as they develop.