Pt.1 What’s Going On With Cary’s Spending?

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor has published an investigative report that highlights various issues with the Town of Cary's spending habits, the use of VISA cards, and the overall financial oversight.

The investigation uncovered procedural and policy breaches by officials concerning the use of public funds. Additionally, the report points out tens of thousands of dollars spent on purchases that either lacked a clear governmental business purpose or seemed excessive. These include costly meals, alcohol purchases, hotel cancellation fees, no-show charges, travel expenses, council-related expenditures, and costs associated with retreats and promotional events.

A significant factor contributing to these questionable spending choices was the large number of town-issued VISA cards. The Office of the State Auditor discovered that more than 62% of town employees were issued a VISA card, which is significantly higher than the average of 16% found in the nine other largest municipalities in North Carolina. In total, Cary issued 828 VISA cards. Between January 2024 and December 2025, employees conducted over 60,000 transactions using government credit cards, amounting to $24.2 million.

State Auditor David Boliek Quote