CRVA Plans Independent Audit After Controversial Bonuses

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority announced on Monday plans to do an independent audit of the tourism organization's business practices following controversial bonuses given to a CRVA official.

During a two-hour closed door meeting, the 13-member Board of Directors voted to hire an outside consultant to review the CRVA's operating policies and procedures, focusing on contract negotiations and financial arrangements. Board leaders said they would have a proposal for a consulting contract next week. Recommendations from the audit would be shared with the community by the end of May.

PDF: CRVA Memo To Mayor, City Council

This all comes after a CRVA employee received $100,000 in bonuses for her work on the CIAA Tournament in Charlotte during the past five years. Eyewitness News discovered late Monday that this year's bonus had not been given out yet, and it was unclear whether the CRVA would have the authority to revoke the bonuses after they had been distributed.

Channel 9 took the audit plans to City Council Member Andy Dulin, who has been vocal about the issue. Dulin described the move as being like a stall tactic.

"This is softball stuff," he said. "The community is looking for hardball."

Dulin said the CRVA should be conducting regular audits already. Still, he said he supports CRVA CEO Tim Newman despite this one ethical issue.

"I think Tim's been running a pretty good show," he said. "I don't know if (the consultants) are going to find anything or not. I think he's running it lean and mean."

When Eyewitness News asked Dulin if anything should happen to Newman or the employee in question, he said that decision is up to the CRVA. Nevertheless, he said the public deserves more transparency and a restoration of trust.

"I don't think (the bonus issue) was illegal," Dulin said. "But I don't think it was right, either."

WSOC