(The Center Square) – Sunshine is sought on a deal in the nation’s 14th largest city by the North Carolina auditor.
A legal settlement Republican first-term auditor Dave Boliek believes is between $100,000 and $300,000 was given to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings. The City Council’s pact, believed to be in use of taxpayer dollars, has not been disclosed.
In a letter to the council, Boliek writes, “Even if the payment was worth one penny, it should be disclosed to the public in a timely and transparent manner. There is no tax dollar free from public scrutiny.”
Among other questions, the auditor’s office seeks to know if a payment exists, for how much and where the money originated. Boliek wrote to Mayor Vi Lyles.
The issue is believed to involve text messages between Jennings and former city councilman Tariq Bokhari. Anthony Fox, the interim counsel for the city, believes the settlement is part of Jennings’ personnel file and exempt from public release.
