It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Little River Park in Zebulon, NC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Zebulon, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Little River Park in Zebulon, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Southland Steakhouse or visit Olde Raleigh, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Zebulon, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Zebulon, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Zebulon, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The town of Zebulon lacked internal controls to effectively manage its finances and overspent from its general fund, according to an audit released on Monday by the State Auditor's Office.The report from the State Auditor's Office said that the town spent more money from its unrestricted funds that what was initially budgeted. According to the auditor's office, the town's unrestricted fund balance was $13,672,910 for fiscal year 2025, which they said represented 48% of the town's total budget expenses.Other WRAL Top Stories...
The town of Zebulon lacked internal controls to effectively manage its finances and overspent from its general fund, according to an audit released on Monday by the State Auditor's Office.
The report from the State Auditor's Office said that the town spent more money from its unrestricted funds that what was initially budgeted. According to the auditor's office, the town's unrestricted fund balance was $13,672,910 for fiscal year 2025, which they said represented 48% of the town's total budget expenses.
Other WRAL Top Stories
The state said the town is supposed to keep the percentage of unrestricted funds at 50% or higher of the town's total expenses for the fiscal year, and that it had dropped by more than 30% in four years.
"Because this ratio was below the 50% threshold, the Town’s fund balance policy dictates that the Town should not have appropriated General Fund balance in its FY 2026 budget," the state auditor's office wrote. "However, the Town appropriated $4,638,409 fund balance in its FY 2026 adopted Budget Ordinance."
In the audit, the state auditor's office said the town "lacked effective internal controls and governance" related to oversight and documentation for executive level compensation and reimbursement.
The audit pointed to a service period in 2025 to highlight oversight issues. In that period, the town overpayed an interim town manager by $6,100. The audit said that while the issues of overpaying reimbursments were promptly corrected, they highlighted a problem for the town's finances.
"While some errors were ultimately corrected, better controls would have prevented these problems from occurring in the first place," the auditor's office said.
The audit also found that:
The State Auditor's Office said they began looking into the town after receiving a referral from its tipline.
The town is currently facing a $2.4 million budget deficit. Town staff say the deficit is a result of rising personnel costs, healthcare expenses, infrastructure obligations, and continued growth-related service demands.
In June, the town approved a new budget. Several residents spoke out against the budget becaused it had pay raises for the town's board of commissioners. The budget doubled the salary for town commissioners from $8,000 a year to $16,000.
The Town of Zebulon sent WRAL News a statement in response to the findings of the audit, which read in part:
"The $2.4 million figure is separate from the audit and does not represent missing funds. It reflects an operating gap identified during the annual budget process. Through the recently adopted budget, approximately $2.25 million in remaining balances from completed capital projects or projects that were no longer moving forward was returned to the General Fund and reallocated to help address the gap. The remaining amount was addressed through reductions to operating line items.
The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to begin discussing financial priorities for the next fiscal year in September. The Town will continue closely monitoring revenues and expenditures and remains committed to transparency, responsible stewardship and serving our community well."
In a statement to WRAL News, the State Auditor's Office said the town is being cooperative throughout the audit process, and "recognized the importantce of sound government practices."
"As the taxpayers’ watchdog, the State Auditor’s Office will continue to engage with local governments when needed, providing transparency and accountability to all corners of North Carolina.”
ZEBULON, N.C. (WNCN) — A North Carolina state auditor investigation launched after an anonymous tip found the Town of Zebulon had significant weaknesses in financial oversight, internal controls and contract administration, identifying issues ranging from missing contracts and undocumented consultant payments to duplicate payments and budgeting practices that fell short of the town’s own financial policies, a new report shows.The report, released Monday by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, examined the town&r...
ZEBULON, N.C. (WNCN) — A North Carolina state auditor investigation launched after an anonymous tip found the Town of Zebulon had significant weaknesses in financial oversight, internal controls and contract administration, identifying issues ranging from missing contracts and undocumented consultant payments to duplicate payments and budgeting practices that fell short of the town’s own financial policies, a new report shows.
The report, released Monday by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, examined the town’s management and disbursement of public funds during fiscal years 2023 through 2025. Auditors said the review began after receiving allegations of insufficient internal controls over the town’s finances, excessive travel spending by town commissioners and administrators, as well as unsupported consultant payments related to the preparation of the town’s budget.
The audit identified eight findings involving contract administration, consultant payments, executive oversight, budgeting practices and internal financial controls.
“The Rapid Response Division found significant weaknesses in internal controls, contract administration, and financial management,” State Auditor Dave Boliek said in a statement on Monday. “While some errors were ultimately corrected, better controls would have prevented these problems from occurring in the first place.”
Among the findings, auditors said the town could not provide a fully executed contract supporting payments to a former interim town manager, whose consulting firm billed Zebulon $4,500 for transition assistance, budget development and other consulting work performed in January 2025.
Although the former interim town manager signed a proposal for professional services, town officials did not, and Zebulon’s chief financial officer told auditors the town could not locate a fully executed agreement supporting the $250 hourly consulting rate.
Auditors also found the town lacked documentation supporting more than $22,600 in payments made to an outside consultant hired to assist with development of the fiscal year 2026 budget.
According to the report, the consultant’s contract required invoices detailing completed work before payment could be approved. However, the town was unable to provide invoices, work product or other documentation showing the consultant completed the required deliverables before receiving payment.
The audit identified multiple weaknesses in the town’s financial controls.
Auditors found inadequate invoice-entry controls and insufficient accounts payable reconciliation, which allowed duplicate and invalid payments to be processed without being detected. The report cited five invalid payments totaling $130 related to unsuccessful cemetery lot purchases, along with an $844.92 duplicate payment to a vendor that remained outstanding until auditors questioned the transaction.
In another finding, auditors said a town accountant accidentally used personal funds to pay a Town credit card balance totaling $16,668.87 after an online payment system defaulted to the employee’s personal bank account. Although the town reimbursed the employee the following day, auditors said the incident exposed weaknesses in internal controls governing disbursements.
The report also concluded the town lacked sufficient oversight of executive compensation and reimbursements.
Auditors cited one instance in which the former interim town manager received an overpayment of $6,100 because of inadequate payment review procedures. The money was returned several days later, but auditors said the incident demonstrated weaknesses in the town’s pre-payment verification process.
Beyond the payment controls, auditors found the town’s unrestricted General Fund balance fell below the minimum level required under its own financial policy.
According to the report, Zebulon’s unrestricted General Fund balance totaled approximately $13.7 million at the end of fiscal year 2025, representing 48.58% of final budgeted expenditures. The town’s financial policy calls for maintaining an unrestricted fund balance equal to at least 50% of projected expenditures.
Despite falling below that threshold, auditors said the town appropriated more than $4.6 million from its General Fund balance in its adopted fiscal year 2026 budget.
The audit also found the town experienced significant and recurring differences between its budgeted and actual revenues and expenditures from fiscal years 2022 through 2025. According to auditors, those recurring variances reduced the reliability of the town’s General Fund budgeting.
The State Auditor’s Office issued numerous recommendations aimed at strengthening Zebulon’s financial controls, improving contract administration, increasing oversight of executive compensation and reimbursements, enhancing invoice review procedures and ensuring the town maintains fund balance levels required under its own financial policies.
Boliek said the Town of Zebulon cooperated throughout the review and recognized “the importance of sound government practices.”
“As the taxpayers’ watchdog, the State Auditor’s Office will continue to engage with local governments when needed, providing transparency and accountability to all corners of North Carolina,” Boliek said.
In a written response included in the audit, Town Manager Katy Crosby said Zebulon has already begun implementing many of the report’s recommendations and remains committed to strengthening its governance, financial management and internal controls. Crosby said the town plans to establish a committee to review financial procedures, provide quarterly financial reports to the Board of Commissioners and continue improving accountability.
Zebulon — which has had four different town managers during the past two years — is facing scrutiny over its financial oversight in a new state auditor’s report released Monday.The report found the town was missing a contract for work done in 2025, accidentally drew more than $16,000 from a town employee’s bank account and sent duplicate payments for services.The report was conducted after an anonymous tip, according to the auditor’s office.It comes less than a week after another report, 2,6...
Zebulon — which has had four different town managers during the past two years — is facing scrutiny over its financial oversight in a new state auditor’s report released Monday.
The report found the town was missing a contract for work done in 2025, accidentally drew more than $16,000 from a town employee’s bank account and sent duplicate payments for services.
The report was conducted after an anonymous tip, according to the auditor’s office.
It comes less than a week after another report, 2,600-pages long, detailed what the auditor called extravagant spending practices in Cary.
“While some errors were ultimately corrected, better controls would have prevented these problems from occurring in the first place,” State Auditor Dave Boliek said in a statement on Monday. “The Town of Zebulon has been cooperative throughout this process and recognized the importance of sound government practices. As the taxpayers’ watchdog, the State Auditor’s Office will continue to engage with local governments when needed, providing transparency and accountability to all corners of North Carolina.”
The town of Zebulon, about 24 miles east of downtown Raleigh, was billed for at least $4,500 worth of consulting work done by former interim Town Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba in January 2025.
Jaiyeoba, a former city manager of Greensboro, filled in as manager for Zebulon in two stints after full-time town managers in the town resigned.
He provided the auditor’s office an invoice for $4,500 the town paid his firm for consulting related to “Town Manager transition, budget development, and miscellaneous support.”
Jaiyeoba was employed as interim manager from April 2025 until current Town Manager Katy Crosby took over in February 2026.
The previous town manager, Gilbert Todd, approved the consulting services, but the town could not provide the auditor’s office with a contract signed by other town officials.
Todd was only manager for about four months in 2025 before he and an assistant manager resigned.
The town also hired a consultant in February 2025, also under Todd, and paid the consultant more than $22,000 over several months. The contract was based on execution of certain goals by the consultant and required invoices detailing the work done, but the consultant did not deliver on those goals, the town told the auditor’s office. The town could not provide invoices to the auditor’s office.
The town also made a duplicate $844 payment in 2023 and later that year it accidentally paid off a more than $16,000 credit card balance using a town accountant’s personal bank account. The town later voided the duplicate payment and reimbursed the accountant.
The town accidentally overpaid Jaiyeoba by over $6,000, which was later paid back.
And it has drawn more out of its unrestricted fund balance — money the town has in the bank — than its own financial procedures allow.
The town drew another $4.6 million from its reserves in its current $28.5 million budget, passed earlier this year, despite the policy.
The auditor’s office called for more security measures in spending and record keeping.
The town’s response, included in the report, acknowledges the seriousness of the financial problems.
Zebulon told the auditor’s office it will create a committee to review financial procedures and that town staff will present quarterly financial reports to the town council.
“The Town has already initiated many of the corrective actions described above and remains committed to continuously strengthening its governance, financial management, and internal control environment,” Crosby wrote to the auditor’s office on July 2.
A lack of sufficient internal controls over finances, and excessive expenditures on travel expenses are just some of the issues described in a Rapid Response Special Report released by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (NCOSA) on the Town of Zebulon.The report released on Monday, came about after the office received a tip alleging lack of sufficient internal controls over the town’s finances, excessive expenditures on travel expenses for town commissioners and administrators, and excessive, unsupported payments to c...
A lack of sufficient internal controls over finances, and excessive expenditures on travel expenses are just some of the issues described in a Rapid Response Special Report released by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (NCOSA) on the Town of Zebulon.
The report released on Monday, came about after the office received a tip alleging lack of sufficient internal controls over the town’s finances, excessive expenditures on travel expenses for town commissioners and administrators, and excessive, unsupported payments to consultants in connection with preparation of the town’s budget.
Zebulon, which has a population of 12,237, has had a high turnover of leadership in recent years, according to auditors.
Among the findings:
The town could not provide an executed contract supporting its payments to the former interim town manager at a rate of $250 per hour for consulting services in January 2025. Vendor records indicate the town paid $4,500 to the former interim town manager’s firm. The services were billed for 18 hours of services during January 2025 at $250 per hour.
Auditors recommended that the town should make sure that fully executed contracts or agreements support compensation rates prior to payment, approval of invoices should not be used as a substitute for formal contract authorization, and documentation should be retained to support payments.
The second finding involved not maintaining adequate documentation to support the town’s payments to consultants for budget preparation activities for FY 2026.
On Feb. 17, 2025, the town executed a professional services contract of $39,500, paid in eight equal semi-monthly installments of $4,937.50. Payments were contingent upon the receipt of invoices detailing the consultant’s work product and approval by the town manager and assistant town manager. The town had paid $22,630.22 before terminating the contract on April 24, 2025, following the resignation of the town manager and assistant town manager, stating that the external consultant’s services were no longer needed.
The town was unable to produce invoices or any documentation other than the contract and its termination upon NCOSA’s request.
Recommendations from auditors include retaining invoices for professional services provided to the town that clearly describe the services performed and explain the basis for all charges and ensure that contractors have performed billed services in accordance with contract terms before issuing payment.
NCOSA also found that checks that were outstanding for more than one year were not investigated in a timely manner or reported as required by the North Carolina Unclaimed Property Act.
Auditors found nine checks that had been outstanding for over a year during an investigation of the town’s April 2025 bank reconciliation. Town officials told NCOSA stated that they had voided and reissued all nine checks, but couldn’t produce supporting documentation except for one check.
Recommendations include conducting a monthly stale-check aging review, promptly investigate items which are outstanding for more than 90 days, and assign responsibility for documenting the resolution of each item. Additionally, the town should file any required unclaimed property reports in the future and should remit amounts for checks meeting the one-year dormancy rule.
The fourth finding shows that the town processed duplicate and invalid payments due to insufficient invoice entry controls and the absence of an effective accounts payable reconciliation process.
Auditors gave two examples including the issuing of five checks totaling $130 to the Wake County Register of Deeds for cemetery lot purchases that were later deemed unsuccessful, and a check for $844.92 to pay a vendor invoice that had already been paid.
Auditors recommend strengthening invoice entry controls by configuring its accounting system to require entry of an invoice number or other unique identifier before approving or paying invoices; implement an effective accounts payable reconciliation process that periodically reconciles invoices, accounts payable records, and the check register to ensure that issued checks correspond to valid and unpaid obligations; and document and assign responsibility for accounts payable review procedures, including the investigation and resolution of aged outstanding checks, and provide training to finance staff on invoice processing and reconciliation responsibilities.
Auditors also discovered that the town’s internal controls didn’t detect a finance staff member’s personal bank account was linked to the town’s credit card account, resulting in the inadvertent use of personal funds to pay a town credit card balance and an urgent reimbursement from the town of $16,668.87.
NCOSA recommends that the town develop and enforce written procedures for handling payment errors or exceptions, require independent verification before processing any reimbursement, and prohibit self-reimbursement; ensure that town obligations are paid exclusively from authorized town bank and credit card accounts and prohibit the use of personal funds to satisfy liabilities in routine operations; and implement and document internal controls to prevent personnel from linking personal bank accounts to town bank or credit card accounts, including training finance staff in prohibited payment practices.
The sixth finding involved the lack of effective internal controls and governance related to oversight and documentation for executive-level compensation and reimbursement.
An example is the overpayment of $6,100 to the former interim town manager that was returned, but shows, according to auditors, weaknesses in payment review controls, specifically the lack of adequate verification procedures prior to disbursement of town funds.
Recommendations including strengthening pre-payment review procedures for payroll and contract-related payments to verify accuracy prior to disbursement, including verification of hours worked, pay rates, and supporting documentation to reduce the risk of overpayment; and establishing and documenting procedures requiring independent review of contracted executives’ compensation, timesheets, and expense reimbursements, making sure that no individual reviews or approves their own compensation or reimbursement requests.
Auditors also found that the town’s General Fund unrestricted fund balance didn’t meet the minimum level required by the Fund Balance Policy described in the town’s FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) which states that “the town has a fund balance policy that is to maintain an unrestricted fund balance in the General Fund of no less than 50% of total projected expenditures. An unrestricted fund balance in excess of 50% is available for general appropriation during the budget year, as approved by the governing body.”
For FY 2025, the town reported an unrestricted fund balance of $13,672,910, representing 48.48% of the town’s final expenditure budget of $28,144,189, below the 50% threshold required in the town’s fund balance policy.
NCOSA recommended that the town the town maintain its unrestricted fund balance and unassigned fund balance at the thresholds set out in its ACFR and in the town’s Resolution 2023-20, and should refrain from appropriating funds from these balances when the applicable thresholds are not met.
The eighth and final finding is that the town’s budget-to-actual variances were significant and recurring for FY 2022 through FY 2025, reducing budget reliability in the General Fund.
For example, in FY 2025, actual expenditures were $21,328,375 while final budgeted expenditures were $28,144,189, a difference of $6,815,814, or 24.22%.
Auditors recommend that the town monitor budget-to-actual revenue and expenditures throughout the fiscal year and investigate and resolve significant variances in a timely manner; use historical trends, actual operating results, and current-year conditions to endeavor to develop General Fund budgets with smaller variances between budgeted and actual revenue and expenditures; and consider requiring town departments to provide documented explanations of significant budget-to-actual variances, and recommend budget amendments or other corrective actions as needed during the fiscal year.
Town officials agreed with the findings and said either new measures addressing the concerns have already been implemented or will be in the near future.
ZEBULON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A new state audit is raising concerns about spending practices in Zebulon, where officials found that a town finance staff member's personal bank account was linked to the town's credit card and nearly $7,000 was spent on an Airbnb rental for an interim town manager.The findings come as many North Carolina towns are increasing property taxes, prompting heightened scrutiny from the State Auditor's Office.The audit detailed multiple issues, including the Airbnb rental approved by the town council, which &q...
ZEBULON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A new state audit is raising concerns about spending practices in Zebulon, where officials found that a town finance staff member's personal bank account was linked to the town's credit card and nearly $7,000 was spent on an Airbnb rental for an interim town manager.
The findings come as many North Carolina towns are increasing property taxes, prompting heightened scrutiny from the State Auditor's Office.
The audit detailed multiple issues, including the Airbnb rental approved by the town council, which "described the lodging as reasonable."
Residents expressed frustration after learning about the spending.
Robert Hernandez of Zebulon said, "It's too much, way too much."
Another resident, Briana Allen, said, "It seems like our government keeps getting richer and doing shady stuff, and we just get sacked with the bill pretty much."
Zebulon is the latest central North Carolina community to undergo a state audit.
In Cary, auditors reported what they described as a culture of extravagant spending, including high-end meals, travel and $1,600 spent on 10 pairs of custom Ray-Ban sunglasses for council members.
State Auditor Dave Boliek said one Cary retreat cost more than $120,000, including $30,000 for "a documentary-style video on putting on a lip-sync dance routine." He added, "some of this stuff you just can't make up."
Rocky Mount also faced an audit focused on utilities billing after earlier spending concerns. The review found two city council members accumulated thousands of dollars in unpaid utility bills during a temporary billing adjustment period, including one bill totaling more than $27,000. The auditor's office said both were "continuing to receive utility services."
Rocky Mount officials said they appreciated the review, which confirmed customers were not improperly billed, and said improvements will continue.
Boliek said Rocky Mount was "within one fiscal quarter of being dead out of money," adding, "so our audit team was there just in time."
The State Auditor's Office said all towns involved will now be monitored.
Zebulon leaders issued a statement Tuesday saying it "takes the State Auditor's findings seriously" and has launched a dashboard for residents to track improvements.
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