{"id":206310,"date":"2026-03-05T23:15:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T23:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/206310\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T23:15:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T23:15:09","slug":"oakland-co-leader-under-fire-for-global-trips-mileage-at-taxpayers-expense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/206310\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland Co. leader under fire for global trips, mileage at taxpayers’ expense"},"content":{"rendered":"

(WXYZ) \u2014 Financial disclosure has been a hot topic in Oakland County in recent months, so the 7 Investigators have been taking a closer look at how your tax dollars are being spent.<\/p>\n

The 7 Investigators reviewed hundreds of documents of expense reports for Oakland County Executive David Coulter and his top appointees.<\/p>\n

County officials say those expenses bring in jobs, but we found examples of how the expense reimbursements for one county official did not always follow county rules.<\/p>\n

In his State of the County addresses, Oakland County Executive David Coulter often touts his county\u2019s financial responsibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pride ourselves on being good stewards for the taxpayers of Oakland County,\u201d said Coulter in his 2024 address. In 2025, he said, \u201cwe\u2019ve improved our fiscal policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

But expense reports from some of Coulter\u2019s top appointees, reviewed by the 7 Investigators, are raising questions.<\/p>\n

One of those appointees is Oakland County Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson. Carlson earns $230,099.22 a year to oversee Economic Development, Procurement and IT for the county.<\/p>\n

Related Story: Advantage or conflict? Oakland County senior leader’s private business deals in question<\/p>\n

Advantage or conflict? Oakland Co. senior leader\u2019s private business in question<\/p>\n

As the 7 Investigators first reported, Carlson also owns a private procurement company, Procurement Consulting Group. Carlson told us he no longer plays a day-to-day role with his company that has contracts with other local governments like Wayne County and the city of Pontiac.<\/p>\n

Both Coulter and Carlson maintain that Carlson’s company is not a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n

But when the 7 Investigators received tips about how Carlson spends county money, we filed public records requests for his expense reports.<\/p>\n

Those reports show the Deputy County Executive is a frequent flyer, traveling to Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, as well as Las Vegas, Denver, Tampa, Boston, Milwaukee, Washington, D.C., and San Jose.<\/p>\n

Related Story: Amid controversy, Oakland County’s leadership team posts financial disclosures<\/p>\n

Amid controversy, Oakland County’s leadership team posts financial disclosures<\/p>\n

We reviewed county records from May 2022 until August 2025. During that time, Carlson charged the taxpayers $46,394.82 for travel, mileage, and meals.<\/p>\n

In November of 2022, Carlson and Executive Coulter traveled to Sweden and Germany on a trade mission. Their expense reports show a total of $4855.26. Two additional county employees were also on the trip, but their expenses were not included our records request.<\/p>\n

The taxpayers later spent $4788.50 to send Carlson to London for a trade show that he says brought international companies to Michigan. While in London, public records show he stayed in a 5-star hotel, St. James\u2019s Hotel and Club in Mayfair.<\/p>\n

Carlson, who\u2019s currently on vacation, spoke to the 7 Investigators by phone on Monday about the travel costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have 76 of the top 100 Tier 1 suppliers located, in regards to global OEM parts right here in Oakland County\u2026 So that really speaks to the R&D and the mobility. And so, we try to be very strategic and targeted. It’s important for the taxpayers to understand that we have a budget of $170,000 for business recruitment and our return on investment is $217 to one,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

For his London trip which included one other county employee (whose expenses were not included in our records request), Carlson said they had talks with German defense and security firm Rheinmetall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey announced last year that … they will be building a North American headquarters in Auburn Hills with an investment of $31.7 million, 450 new jobs,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas the result of that London trip?\u201d asked Catallo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s very important\u2014I don’t want to come across as saying that it happened because of that. It is a combination of efforts whenever we’re talking to a company. \u2018Hey, this is what we offer. We can do site location for you. We’ve got different sites in Oakland County.\u2019 Of course, it’s important to understand that we have more mechanical and industrial engineers than any other county in the country. And those are the pitches that we make to their leaders to get our foot in the door. The MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), we collaborate and coordinate with them. They’re also having conversations with Rheinmetall at the same time. The governor announced the Rheinmetall investment last fall,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

In May 2023, expense reports obtained by the 7 Investigators show Carlson also traveled with Oakland County Commission Chair Dave Woodward to Milwaukee. Carlson billed the county $2186.84 for the visit, including airfare, hotel, meals and rideshare trips.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was announced that MEDC and Oakland County were partnering with the World Economic Forum to create the only hub in the U.S. for the US Center for Advanced Manufacturing. Dave Woodward was named to the executive committee,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

Related Stories:<\/p>\n

Oakland County leaders call for criminal investigation into controversial IT contract<\/a><\/p>\n

Road commissioner’s alleged workplace threat back in discussion at committee meeting<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Nothing is being done.’ Workers call on board to act after road commissioner\u2019s \u2018threat of violence\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Did Oakland County commission head use position to help along possible Sheetz in Waterford?<\/a><\/p>\n

Carlson told us the trip was for a conference as part of the Troy-based US Center for Advanced Manufacturing, but no conference documentation was included in his receipts.<\/p>\n

A few months later, Carlson and Woodward, who also has outside consulting companies, flew together to Austin, Texas. Carlson billed the county more than $2767.85 for a trip labeled \u201cconference,\u201d but once again, records do not include documentation of a conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a pattern of this spending on Oakland County taxpayers’ dime that isn’t documented thoroughly. That\u2019s concerning,\u201d said Oakland County Commissioner Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford).<\/p>\n

Nelson has been calling for better financial oversight in the county.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s all about being mindful of how we spend the taxpayer dollars. There is an expectation that when we do travel and we do reimburse travel expenses, there is an expectation that there’s very clean and clear documentation,\u201d said Nelson.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019s not flying, records show Carlson racking up the miles across Michigan, getting reimbursed $7502.12 for the miles he drove in his personal car during the 39 months of records reviewed.<\/p>\n

Internal county memos show, Oakland County employees are encouraged to save money by using a county vehicle, especially \u201cfor trips in excess of 42 miles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing that we have county vehicles that are readily available\u2014 that is a very clear and clean-cut example of wasteful spending,\u201d said Nelson.<\/p>\n

Even though county reimbursement regulations state, \u201cno mileage will be reimbursed for travel between an employee\u2019s domicile and his\/her workstation,” Carlson\u2019s records routinely show mileage reimbursement from his home in Commerce Township to work meetings around Michigan.<\/p>\n

The deputy county executive billed mileage for travel from his home to sites in Detroit, Wyandotte, and even Mackinaw City, when mileage from the county offices in Waterford would have cost taxpayers less.<\/p>\n

Carlson said he did not know his assistants were billing his mileage from home, even though his signature is on expense reports the 7 Investigators reviewed.<\/p>\n

\"Sean<\/p>\n

WXYZ<\/p>\n

Sean Carlson<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we were doing it the correct way,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

Carlson said all the mileage was for county business, but his reports lack detail about what type of business was conducted.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur meetings were taken on behalf of Oakland County, but I understand what you’re saying. It looks as if, okay, well, what meeting are you having? What meeting is this?\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

Carlson also regularly charges mileage to the taxpayers to attend meetings at his private club, the Detroit Athletic Club. In all, Carlson billed mileage to the DAC at least 45 times, often charging for travel from his home. The DAC is more than 40 miles from Carlson\u2019s home, and about 32 miles from county offices.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould the taxpayers really have to pay for all of your back and forth there?\u201d asked Catallo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to understand and maybe get the report to see how many back and forths there are there. But I certainly have gone there to conduct meetings. There’s no doubt about that. But I hear the point that you’re making,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

Agendas from some of his DAC meetings show, in the fall of 2023, Carlson hosted Commission Chair Woodward for Pontiac redevelopment meetings with developers, real estate executives, and even James Esshaki, who was later appointed to the Road Commission of Oakland County.<\/p>\n

Carlson said the meetings were to encourage people to bid on the Pontiac redevelopment project that\u2019s expected to cost taxpayers at least $370 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you feel a need to entertain them in order to get them to bid, why are you doing it at a place that’s not in Oakland County?\u201d asked Catallo.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the importance and the gravitas of this project, I felt it was appropriate,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

\"Kristen<\/p>\n

WXYZ<\/p>\n

Kristen Nelson <\/p>\n

Commissioner Nelson says the county has a lot of available meeting spaces that don\u2019t cost anything, and questions why these developer meetings were held off site.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing taxpayer dollars at a private club outside of the county \u2013 that raises some red flags,\u201d said Nelson.<\/p>\n

When Carlson submitted those bills for reimbursement, records show he did not provide details, instead submitting an \u2018affidavit of lost receipt.\u2019 This week, after the 7 Investigators asked about those meetings, Carlson produced the itemized receipts. Records show the DAC bills for the meals for potential bidders totaled $1195.13, including $100 room charges for some meetings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t feel like the costs were exorbitant and I felt like that they were reasonable,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn regard to the competitive bids that came in, I believe that more than benefited at the end of the day in regards to our decisions to have those conversations,\u201d said Carlson.<\/p>\n

In 2024 and 2025, Carlson also got reimbursed for mileage to five off-site meetings at a Keego Harbor restaurant to discuss spinning off the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS). Those meetings included current county employees and local police chiefs. He also submitted expenses for $133.71 in meals for those off-site CLEMIS meetings. Carlson said the meeting spot was the most convenient for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

Many times, Carlson\u2019s expense reports did not follow county policy that states mileage must be turned in within 30 days, and travel expenses within 15 workdays. Records show his expenses have sometimes been submitted months later, and sometimes not even until the following year.<\/p>\n

Former state representative Jim Townsend is the director of the Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State. He says if there are questions about expenses, public trust can be hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt causes people to think that their tax dollars are not being used wisely,\u201d said Townsend. \u201cAll levels of government have a crisis of credibility, and a government that’s not credible struggles to do the people’s business.\u201d<\/p>\n

An Oakland County spokesman told the 7 Investigators, Carlson\u2019s meetings and relationships have helped secure thousands of new jobs in the county but some of his expenses appear to be unique.<\/p>\n

A Wayne County spokesman said their employees and appointees are not allowed to get reimbursed for expenditures at private clubs. Macomb County officials told the 7 Investigators that while they don\u2019t have a policy against it, it is not something they do either.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Oakland County Public Information Officer Bill Mullan sent us this statement:<\/p>\n

\u201cOakland County has a rigorous employee reimbursement process which involves a multi-layered review to ensure full compliance with county policy. When clerical errors occur, the county has procedures to rectify them. When Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson learned of overpayments in mileage claims of $495 over four years, he took immediate action to return the funds.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeputy Carlson meets and builds relationships with business leaders and entrepreneurs from around the region, the state, the U.S. and the world considering investing in Oakland County. The expenses associated with that work are budgeted for and have helped secure more than $1.3 billion in new investment and 4,500 jobs for our residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 7 Investigators are continuing to review the expense reports of other county appointees and elected officials. We will bring you those stories in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(WXYZ) \u2014 Financial disclosure has been a hot topic in Oakland County in recent months, so the 7…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":206311,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[14634,143,95236,95237,95238,145,144,14635,14636,4552,14637],"class_list":["post-206310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-oakland","tag-heather-catallo","tag-oakland","tag-oakland-county-deputy-county-executive-sean-carlson","tag-oakland-county-expenses","tag-oakland-county-finances","tag-oakland-headlines","tag-oakland-news","tag-ross-jones","tag-the-investigators","tag-wxyz","tag-wxyz-investigations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=206310"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206310\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/206311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=206310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=206310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=206310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}