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Zebulon’s finance manager will retire at the end of August, weeks after a report by the state auditor’s office took issue with the town’s financial record keeping and controls.
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Finance Director Bobby Fitts’ retirement was announced at Monday’s town board meeting and was first reported by WRAL.
An anonymous tip led to the state audit, which found instances of missing invoices and contracts and called for stricter financial controls in the town.
Zebulon’s Town Manager Katy Crosby was appointed as Fitts’ temporary replacement, but council members and Crosby raised concerns about the separation of duties among town staff.
“His retirement will not affect the Town’s commitment to completing the corrective actions and goals” in reaction to the audit’s findings, town spokesperson Heather Finch told The N&O.
The town can’t speak further to the reasoning behind his retirement, Finch added.
The N&O also could not reach Fitts to ask about the timing of his retirement.
The main problem in replacing Fitts is that the town doesn’t have another “bonded” employee ready to take his place.
In this case, a bonded employee is someone who can be insured with a bond to protect the town in case of theft, fraud or damaged property.
North Carolina requires public officials handling certain amounts of money to be bonded.
Town staff initially pitched Fire Chief Chris Perry to take over Fitts’ duties in an interim capacity, but he’s not bonded.
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And “his plate is so full,” Mayor Pro Tem Quentin Miles said during Monday’s meeting. “He’s running a full-time staff and also building a fire department.”
Town Commissioner George Roa added that the town “just got dinged” by the state auditor for the former town manager signing off on things for himself and his department. As fire chief, Perry would have a similar issue when approving purchases for his own department, Roa said.
“There is no separation of duty,” Roa said.
Town officials acknowledged that Crosby, who started her position in February, would have similar challenges, but they appointed her as Fitts’ interim successor with the condition she get bonded.
Zebulon has had four different town managers during the past two years, and the auditor’s report highlighted a series of peculiarities, mistakes and missing records including:
The audit also highlighted specific issues around former town managers’ spending.
An interim town manager, Taiwo Jaiyeoba, billed the town for at least $4,500 of consulting work for “Town Manager transition, budget development, and miscellaneous support” after he left office.
The full-time town manager who took Jaiyeoba’s position, Gilbert Todd, approved the contract with Jaiyeoba. But the town could not provide the auditor’s office with a contract signed by other town officials as required for town contracts.
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.
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This story was originally published August 4, 2026 at 3:37 PM.