North Carolina’s state auditor is looking into town of Cary policies to determine whether to conduct an audit or investigation into spending by town employees.
State Auditor Dave Boliek told WRAL Friday that the action comes in response to requests from several citizens who made calls to the auditor’s tip line.
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The town recently put its town manager, Sean Stegall, on paid administrative leave. The move came after town spending came under scrutiny.
Stegall hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment.
The auditor’s office serves as a watchdog over public spending up and down state and local government. The office typically takes an interest in cases of high public interest, but it doesn’t disclose whether its preliminary reviews will result in full audits or investigations, or if the office ultimately decides to terminate a review.
Receipts: Town manager spent thousands at hotel
Receipts show suspended Cary Town Manager Sean Stegall spent thousands of dollars at a 4-star hotel during an out-of-state conference when other employees stayed across the street.
WRAL News obtained documents that show how Stegall spent the town's money.
At a 2023 conference in Austin, Texas, he spent over $3,000 on a hotel stay for four nights at a different hotel from where other town employees stayed.
Cary residents have questions about Stegall's spending, but it's not clear whether that is linked to his suspension. Many like Susan Heineman want to know specifics around what happened, the length of the suspension and when things will be resolved.
WRAL News has asked other town leaders multiple times, only to receive no response as to why Stegall is on leave.
At a city council meeting Thursday, residents asked about Stegall's spending, especially his suggestion for the town to pay for another councilmember's master's degree, which ended up costing more than $37,000.
Now, his other spending is under a microscope.
WRAL obtained hotel receipts from a 2023 work trip to Austin, Texas, that seven town employees attended, including Stegall.
While others stayed across the street, Stegall booked a different "4-star hotel" that cost about $680 a night, plus hundreds more for a "luxury" car service to and from the airport.
When WRAL asked town officials if Stegall's spending is the reason for his suspension, no one responded.
We also asked for "all policies relating to spending for town employees," which we also haven't received.
Councilmember Lori Bush addressed her tuition payments in a statement saying, "...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."
WRAL has reached out multiple times to phone numbers listed for Town Manager Sean Stegall. We have yet to hear back.