Wake County commissioners voted to hire a firm to conduct an audit of credit card spending by Wake county employees following revelations about taxpayer funded trips to Disney World, Las Vegas and other locales by now-fired recycling manager Craig Wittig. The outrageous spending spree cost taxpayers about $160,000. The audit will cost $125,000 to $150,000, according to the News & Observer story.
Good news, but the big question mark of this story continues to be the fact that the person who approved the 50+ trips hasn’t been terminated by County Manager David Cooke.
Cooke said he is still considering personnel action against others involved in the scandal, including demoted solid waste director James S. Reynolds, who signed off on the questionable spending.
Commissioners said Monday they have received hundreds of calls from outraged taxpayers and county employees demoralized by the scandal.
Cooke said he would make budget cuts, including the elimination of Wittig’s now-vacant position, to make up for the fired employee’s spending spree and the cost of the resulting audit.
“The taxpayers should not have to bear the burden of our mistake,” Cooke said.
