Cary audit puts public spending, oversight and council accountability under new scrutiny

Cary’s debate over public spending moved from an investigative report to a question of political accountability at the Town Council’s July 23 meeting.

The North Carolina State Auditor released its Cary report on July 16, identifying procedural and policy violations along with weaknesses in purchasing-card controls, financial documentation, reporting and oversight. Residents then challenged council members over whether elected officials did enough to monitor town finances, with some calling for resignations, according to WRAL News.

What the state report examined

Investigators reviewed 828 town purchasing cards and more than 60,000 transactions totaling $24.2 million from January 2024 through December 2025. The auditor said more than 62% of Cary employees had town purchasing cards, compared with an average of 16% in nine other large North Carolina municipalities.

The report described purchases that investigators said lacked a clear government business purpose or appeared excessive. The findings included concerns about high-cost meals, alcohol purchases, hotel cancellation and no-show charges, travel expenses, council-related purchases, retreat spending and promotional activities.

The report also identified issues involving $37,301 in graduate tuition for a council member that was later reimbursed, $65,653 paid to a ghostwriter for a book about former Town Manager Sean Stegall, a land purchase of more than $1 million without full Town Council review, council and staff compensation, and a Wilmington retreat that included $121,314 in video-production costs.

Those are findings and conclusions about spending practices, controls and oversight. They do not, by themselves, establish criminal wrongdoing.

Some matters remain under investigation

The State Auditor said certain matters were referred to the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The office withheld additional details to preserve the integrity of potential criminal investigations.

Residents should therefore distinguish between documented audit findings, allegations referred for further review and any future investigative or prosecutorial decisions. The public record does not establish whether criminal charges will be filed.

Cary’s response and the separate review

Cary has published a Moving Forward accountability page and a public dashboard describing steps the town says it is taking to strengthen oversight, improve transparency and address concerns connected to the former town manager’s tenure.

The town says its actions include supporting the State Auditor and Wake County investigations, expanding opportunities for public input during budgeting, adding financial oversight capacity and tracking corrective work. The dashboard is intended to show progress, but its existence does not mean every recommendation has been completed.

A separate review by Womble Bond Dickinson was presented to council on July 23. The review produced 21 recommendations tied to issues involving the former town manager and town governance. It is distinct from the State Auditor’s investigative report, even though both reviews could influence future purchasing and oversight practices.

What Cary residents should watch next

The next important developments will be documented changes to purchasing-card access, receipt and reimbursement requirements, financial reporting, council approval thresholds and public budget oversight.

Residents should also watch for updates from the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation, while recognizing that investigative details may remain confidential. For Cary taxpayers, the central question is whether the town’s response produces measurable changes in how public money is approved, tracked and reported—not simply whether new policies are announced.

Sources

• North Carolina State Auditor investigative report
• Town of Cary: Moving Forward
• WRAL News: Cary residents call for council resignations