During the 2022 monitoring process, considering the criteria for fiscal distress, the Office qualitatively identified the City of Hopewell as needing further follow-up review.  From this review, we observed certain internal, organizational factors and conditions that may indicate a situation of distress related to significant issues around the City’s inability to submit its audited financial reports timely.  As a result, the Office provided this written notification in December 2022 with our formal recommendation that the Commonwealth provide state assistance to further assess and help remediate the City’s situation.  The Office’s recommendation letter outlined further details of the specific issues and primary factors contributing to the City’s inability to produce its audited financial reports timely and deficiencies related to its internal controls over accounting and financial reporting.