RALEIGH - County Manager David Cooke will ask the Wake commissioners to approve an expansive audit after revelations that a former employee used government credit cards to pay for extensive travel.

In a memo sent Thursday afternoon, Cooke told the elected officials he met with an independent accounting firm this week about auditing credit card transactions and re-examining policies governing out-of-town travel.

Cooke proposes a review of all purchasing by the county's Environmental Services Department going back two years and all other county departments for one year.

The Raleigh firm Cherry, Bekaert & Holland would perform the audit at a cost of $212,500 to $237,500, according to a proposed contract.

The commissioners plan a special work session to discuss the travel scandal at 12:30 p.m. Monday, before the board's regularly scheduled meeting.

Craig P. Wittig, 37, the former manager of the county's recycling program, was fired June 3 after questions were raised about at least 50 trips, including four visits to Walt Disney World and a whale-watching cruise of the coast of Maine.

In the little more than two years he worked for the county, Wittig averaged two out-of-town trips a month. He and five subordinates racked up $161,233 in travel costs and other expenses to credit cards issued by Wake County and paid for with public money.Wittig was paid $61,190 a year.

His boss -- James S. Reynolds, director of solid waste management -- signed off on the charges, which were often justified as reconnaissance of renowned museums and parks for establishing a "world class" environmental education program for the county, including plans for a nature center at the recently closed North Wake Landfill.

Reynolds was quietly demoted last month after an internal review, but he has remained on the county payroll at a reduced annual salary of $85,000.

After details of the trips were made public by The News & Observer last week, however, Cooke and the commissioners were peppered with calls from outraged taxpayers. Many demanded to know why Reynolds was not fired for approving Wittig's spending.

In his memo Thursday, Cooke did not disclose Reynolds' fate, though the manager wrote that "additional disciplinary actions are being considered."

Cooke also noted that the county is continuing to supply documents to the Wake District Attorney's Office for potential criminal prosecution in the case.

About 535 county employees have the spending cards, which are intended to cut red tape and streamline the procurement of goods and services. About $6 million in county money was spent on the cards last year.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.