Latest North Carolina Auditor's Report Forces CATS and Vi Lyles to Cancel Today's Security Meeting

Today Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, CATS Director Brent Cagle and the Charlotte City Manager were to hold a press conference on Light Rail Security Upgrades following the murder of Iryna Zarutska.

Then late yesterday the North Carolina State Auditor released a draft report on the auditor's findings.

Within minutes the Mayor's meeting was postponed.

Basically the report suggests that CATS security is poorly managed and lacks direction. Costs are out of control and security is at best questionable.

North Carolina Office of the State Auditor Highlights.

While the CATS’s security contract value has increased from $5.9 million in 2022 to $18.4 million in 2025, the number of armed security has decreased by at least 40% over that time. 

Throughout Charlotte’s solicitation for private security firms for the CATS, the Charlotte Business Inclusion (CBI) program had direct influence on contract requirements.

During a CBI Advisory Committee meeting, members were encouraged “to listen to the Republican argument” in support of HB 171, “An Act Eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives in State and Local Government,” so they could “be prepared to counter it.” 

State Auditor Dave Boliek says when CATS conducted an RFP in 2022 for unarmed security services, the RFP was targeted only to businesses registered with CBI - the Charlotte Business Inclusion Program. 

Professional Security Services got the contract for unarmed services.

The city had a contract with Strategic Security Services for armed security. The city terminated it because the firm "did not perform up to CATS' expectations." After the termination, the contract with PSS was amended to add armed security. 

CATS says PSS "has met contract requirements and continues to provide satisfactory services."

Boliek says the 2018 contract with G4S Secure Solutions had the number of armed security personnel provided for the CATS between approximately 68 and 88. A review of the current contract with PSS, and confirmation from the City of Charlotte this month, has the armed security figure at 39

In response to Boliek, Mayor Vi Lyles wrote a letter saying his report alleges PSS is not qualified "but fails to offer specific evidence to support this conclusion." 

She says President Donald Trump hired PSS during his first campaign to be a security provider at his events in the Carolinas.

Read the full NC Auditor's Preliminary Special Report here: 

Auditors report is here (Opens in a new window)