Calls for Cary Town Council members to resign are growing after a state audit uncovered years of questionable spending and raised concerns about the town’s financial oversight.
Residents packed a Cary Town Council meeting this week, with the session lasting more than five hours. It was the first council meeting since the release of the state’s 2,600-page audit.
Other WRAL Top Stories
The audit details what investigators described as an extravagant spending culture under former Town Manager Sean Stegall. According to the report, taxpayer money was used to pay for penthouse hotel rooms, expensive meals and the production of books and videos.
While the audit places significant responsibility on Stegall, several residents told council members they believe the elected board also bears responsibility.
“It is very truthful that he must answer for his own conduct, but placing all responsibility on one former employee would be a broad leap of Olympic proportions.”Cary resident Hanif Williams
The audit also found council members generally took a hands-off approach to the town’s finances. State auditors wrote that council members “appeared to remain hands-off where budget planning was concerned and to focus instead on other matters.”
Town officials say they have already begun implementing changes in response to the audit. Those steps include expanding opportunities for public input during the budgeting process, hiring additional staff to oversee the town’s finances and increasing financial transparency.
WRAL News has reached out to Cary Town Council members with questions about the calls for their resignations. While some members have responded, others have not.
