But residents are eager to discuss it.

"If a woman chooses to have an elective abortion, she should be using her money to do it. Not my tax money," Cary resident Erin Holmquist said Thursday at a Town Council meeting.

Holmquist was one of five residents to speak against the town's standard health insurance policy, which covers elective abortions for employees.

Cary officials have been quietly studying the town's health policy ever since Apex and Wake County decided weeks ago eliminate coverage of some abortions from their employees' insurance plan. But thus far, Cary has not formally addressed the issue.

Councilwoman Jennifer Robinson thinks the discussion -- whether or not to cover elective abortions under the town health policy -- is one worth having. And if it isn't addressed head on, there could be another way.

"It's a contentious issue. Citizens are on different sides of it," Robinson said last week. "... It would be appropriate for council to give staff direction."

If the council does not address the policy in an upcoming meeting, it could be brought up when budget discussions start in March, Robinson said. "I would not vote to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize or pay for elective abortions," she said.

Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht said he wasn't opposed to talking about elective abortion coverage during the budget process but added those discussions would need to consider cost, not morals.

"The moral issues are decided at the Supreme Court, not the Cary Town Council," he said. "If you're going to take one item out of the health care plan, you might as well do a comprehensive review of the plan."

Because the town's self-funded health insurance policy starts its new cycle July 1, the issue of covering medically unnecessary abortions would be a natural part of budget conversation, Robinson said.

"When we do the annual budget for the town, we address insurance matters at the same time," she said.