CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A WBTV Investigation reveals Charlotte councilmembers have been spending taxpayer dollars on trips they never attended or have questionable connections to city business.
WBTV requested records of city council travel expense reports and other reimbursements, paid for by taxpayers. The records date back to January 2025.
Brain injury conferences
During that time, Councilmember Renee Johnson expensed three trips to “Brain Injury Conferences” at a total cost to taxpayers of $4,675. According to her city council webpage, Johnson is “the founder and executive director of Triumph Services, an organization designed to provide behavioral health services to survivors of trauma, including but not limited to acquired brain injury.”
In an email, WBTV asked Johnson why the taxpayer-funded trips should be considered city business instead of personal trips she pays for herself.
Johnson sent a 15-paragraph response emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about brain injuries and explaining how it connects to public service.
“Just 90 days after being sworn into office, I introduced Charlotte’s first Brain Injury Awareness Month proclamation,” Johnson wrote.
She also highlighted her work advocating for city employees who suffered brain injuries and pointed out the importance of the North Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Action Plan.
“In many ways, your questions demonstrate why brain injury awareness remains so important.”
Cancelled trips cost taxpayers
Several councilmembers were scheduled to go on trips, but they ultimately were unable to attend. That doesn’t mean it didn’t cost taxpayers.
Councilman James “Smuggie” Mitchell’s cancelled trips came at the greatest cost to taxpayers.
According to the expense reports, Michell cancelled an “Exploring Economies” trip to Boston with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance that still cost $2,038. The memo for that report said it was “due to an unexpected illness on October 1.”
Mitchell also didn’t attend a North Carola League of Municipalities conference that cost $450.
Mitchell said he missed the League of Municipalities conference because several high-priority meetings regarding I-77 and data centers were scheduled within that same timeframe.
Regarding the missed trip to Boston, Mitchell said he was registered and fully intended to attend; however, due to an unexpected illness, he was unable to do so.
“I want to be clear that my registration and preparation for that event reflect my commitment and engagement, and my absence was entirely beyond my control,” Mitchell wrote to WBTV.
WBTV asked Mitchell if he would consider reimbursing the city for the trips he didn’t take that were expensed to taxpayers.
“Each of these expenses was reviewed, approved, and processed in full accordance with the City of Charlotte’s established travel policies and procedures,” Mitchell wrote in an email to WBTV. “A demand for personal reimbursement is not only unwarranted, but also inconsistent with how City travel expenses are governed and adjudicated.”
Councilmembers Victoria Watlington, Dimple Ajmera, and Kimberly Ownes also cancelled trips that were still counted as a travel expense.
Expense records show Watlington did not attend the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C., but the trip still cost $1,625. Watlington did not respond to WBTV’s request for comment.
Ajmera also did not attend the NLC conference, which cost just $808. Ajmera told WBTV she had a family emergency that prevented her from attending. While she was unable to get a refund, records she sent WBTV show she received a flight credit covering the cost of the trip.
Owens, like Mitchell, did not attend the North Carola League of Municipalities conference that cost $450. In the expense report, the memo reads “CM Owens did not attend, deadline passed for refund.”
“I do not plan on reimbursing anyone where circumstances changed, and I was unable to attend. My expenditures are in line with our budget, and I have paid for numerous items out of my own pocket where something made sense for my constituents but was not part of the budget,” Owens wrote in an email to WBTV.
Whose travel costs the most?
WBTV analyzed the records for Charlotte’s currently serving council members.
Expense reports for Mayor Vi Lyles, who is stepping down, and other councilmembers who served in 2025 are still available for review here.
Councilmember LaWana Mayfield expensed the most trips since Jan. 1, 2025, for $18,659. The trips that differentiated her from other councilmembers include an LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference and a Faith in Housing Summit in Alexandria, VA.
Mayfield also went to the National League of Cities Summit in Salt Lake City and the NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, which records show Councilmember Mitchell also expensed. Mayor Vi Lyles also attended the NAACP Image Awards.
- LaWana Mayfield: $18,659
- Malcolm Graham: $8,346
- Victoria Watlington: $7,933
- Renee Johnson: $7,507
- Dante Anderson: $7,167
- Ed Driggs: $6,810
- Kimberly Owens: $4,546
- James Mitchell: $4,375
- JD Mazuera Arias: $4,012
- Joi Mayo: $3,748
- Dimple Ajmera: $1,799
Mayfield did not respond to WBTV’s email requesting a comment on her travel expenses.
In response to questions about the NAACP Image Awards trip, Mitchell said the travel was done at the direct request of Mayor Lyles since he was designated as a representative of the “Blue-Ribbon Committee.”
“Additionally, Charlotte was formally recognized during the event, making representation at this function both appropriate and necessary,” Mitchell wrote.
Arias, Mayo, and Owens have only been on the city council since Dec. 1, 2025, while the others served the entire period covered by the records.
Other findings from travel expenses
Councilmembers JD Mazuera Arias and James “Smuggie” Mitchell took an Economic Development trip to Jacksonville, Fla., in December 2026 with members of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
The trip was coordinated with Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns the Charlotte Checkers, and was a one-day tour of an ice rink facility that could be replicated in Eastland Yards.
The hotel room for Councilmember Mitchell was paid for by the CRVA, not the council travel expense budget. The CRVA is primarily funded by hospitality and tourism taxes.
In a statement to WBTV, a CRVA spokesperson wrote, “At the time of the trip, Councilmember Mitchell served as chair of the City Council Economic Development and Workforce Committee. The trip was related to the evaluation of a potential economic development opportunity that could benefit Charlotte’s east side.”
In a phone call with WBTV, Councilmember Arias said he was under the impression that all the accommodations were paid for by the City of Charlotte.
Arias originally did not have an expense report filed for the Jacksonville trip and said he was unsure why. A week after WBTV first received the expense records, his expense report was completed and included in the records.
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