Waste of the Day: Town Manager’s Snacking Spree
Topline: Michael Boaz, the former town manager of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, made hundreds of unauthorized purchases on his city credit card from 2022 to 2024, including bullets and a hotel for his family vacation, according to a state audit released in May.
Boaz was fired in 2024 when the allegations first came to light. Now that a state audit confirmed the questionable purchases, he has been indicted for felony embezzlement.
Key facts: Boaz’ questionable purchases totaled $18,426, much of which was spent on food. He spent $12,897 at pizzerias, barbecue restaurants, an oyster bar, Chili’s, Jersey Mike’s Subs and many more. He also placed 34 DoorDash orders for $1,576.
Boaz bought $2,300 worth of Visa gift cards and spent $442 on Apple electronics. Auditors also found a $419 charge at a hotel in Seattle where Boaz allegedly stayed with his family on their way to a personal vacation in Alaska.
Credit card records also showed a $276 online order of gun ammunition with no clear business purpose.
All checks issued by Pilot Mountain were supposed to be signed by both Boaz and another official to ensure they were appropriate. But the audit alleges that Boaz had a stamp bearing the mayor’s signature that he used to issue checks by himself.
Boaz was also allegedly working as a private consultant for another town while on the clock in Pilot Mountain, according to the audit.
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Background: Pilot Mountain’s Board of Commissioners placed Michael Boaz on administrative leave in October 2024 and fired him two months later for “misappropriation of funds.” Alleged criminal activity was not suspected at the time, but Boaz had left the town with more than $775,000 debt after spending money without approval. Administrators were forced to sell city property to raise revenue.
At the time, Boaz was by far the highest-paid public employee in Pilot Mountain’s history. He made $104,583 in 2024. Records from the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer do not list any other employee who has made more than $80,000. Open the Books has not yet obtained the town’s 2025 payroll.
Summary: There are plenty of avoidable reasons small cities have fallen into debt, but overspending at Chili’s might be one of the most absurd.
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