Cary residents on Thursday blasted the town council after it was discovered that the town used Cary's money to pay for a councilmember's master's degree.
Several residents gathered for the public comment section of the meeting to criticize an act that they said was "egregious."
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"The citizens of Cary can't trust their council," one speaker said.
Financial records show the Town of Cary previously paid tens of thousands of dollars in tuition payments for a councilmember’s master’s degree.
Lori Bush, who was sworn in as Cary’s Mayor Pro Tem last week, received $37,300.97 from the town toward a degree in Northwestern University’s Public Policy program, according to a town spokesperson.
The spokesperson said financial records show Bush paid back the amount in full.
When asked whether the public funds had been allocated from money set aside for professional development, the town said it was “looking into it.”
Emails obtained by WRAL News show that human resources initially referred to her receipts as reimbursements for professional development. Some of the spreadsheets and emails also refer to her tuition reimbursements as travel and training.
The town's finance department acknowledged that there is an IRS limit on tax-free tuition reimbursement.
"I find it absolutely egregious that thousands and thousands of dollars were given to a councilmember when so many people are struggling," another resident said during the meeting.
Council members on Thursday entered an hours-long closed-door session after the public comment. When they returned, they adjourned the meeting and left out a side door.
They did not address the concerns during the public comment section, and it is unclear if they discussed the situation behind closed doors.
'I did not request': Cary council member responds to accusation that she was given town money for degree
Bush, on Thursday, released a statement about this situation, saying that more than two years ago, she started thinking about what kind of further education would help her better serve the town.
She said that around the time she decided to pursue a master's degree at Northwestern University, the town manager offered to have the town support her tuition, "in line with the town's emphasis on professional development."
Bush said she did not request this financial support, and that it only came after she decided to pursue the program on her own. She said she initially declined the offer.
"Recently, I learned that this proposal to pay had not been shared with all of our Council," Bush wrote. "A senior staff leader had told me that all Council members would be informed, and I relied on that assurance from a trusted person. I regret not following up with each member myself to ensure they heard it directly from me."
Bush said that once she became aware of concerns, she reimbursed the town in full to eliminate any doubts about the use of public funds and to uphold the public's trust.
She continued:
I acted in good faith and followed the guidance I was given. I also recognize that the communication around this was not what it should have been. Going forward, I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure expectations and processes are clearer and more openly shared. I also want to state clearly that there is no connection between the tuition miscommunications I have described and the questions many of you understandably have about the Town Manager's leave.Lori Bush
Suspended town manager suggested the program
It comes as Cary remains tightlipped about the reasons behind placing town manager Sean Stegall on paid administrative leave since Nov. 21.
In another obtained email, it shows that Stegall was the person to suggest Bush to take the classes at Northwestern University, calling them "interesting" and saying that he thought of her when he saw the one-year program.
He even emailed her back, "Let's do it together!"
It's unclear if Stegall's involvement with the push for Bush to take these classes are related to his leave.
A Tuesday work session agenda showed the council is scheduled to discuss "town council policies."
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht opened Tuesday's meeting by saying, "While I would like to say more about the town manager's leave, legal reasons prevent me from doing so."
Weinbrecht elaborated through his online blog, sharing that the council will discuss the ethics policy for town council and conflicts of interest and gift policy for federal procurement.