Dallas’ interim City Manager Kim Tolbert is costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in travel to various leftist events.
Tolbert’s first trip was to an International City/County Management Association event in Austin in October 2023, where the itinerary included an “Equity & Inclusion Leaders Luncheon” and an “Alvies Boot Party,” the Dallas Express reported. This event cost Dallas taxpayers $1,200.
Following the Austin event, Tolbert took a first-class flight to the feminist International Women’s Forum in Detroit, Michigan. The City of Dallas was charged $2,445 for her entry, and she flew first class both ways, which cost $335 in total. Along with her per diem expenses, the total trip reportedly cost taxpayers around $4,000.
After Dallas stopped supporting certain housing projects, including tiny homes and other facilities used to house vagrants and homeless people, Tolbert traveled to Los Angeles and Atlanta to learn about their housing projects in January 2024. The total cost of the California trip was $1,199.94, and the Georgia trip cost $992.24.
According to the Dallas Express, “The final expense came in the form of a trip to the National Forum of Black Public Administrators conference in Baltimore. This trip cost taxpayers $1,500 for a four-night hotel stay, $800 for registration, $350 for airfare, and $250 per diem.”
Tolbert formerly served as Dallas’ deputy city manager and was appointed in February to temporarily replace outgoing City Manager T.C. Broadnax. She officially took over the interim position on May 2.
In her former position, Tolbert traveled to the National League of Congressional Cities conference in March while accompanying the Dallas City Council on a trip to Washington, D.C. This event combined important City government issues with less relevant topics such as “Race, Equity, And Leadership (R.E.A.L.) Council Meeting,” “Women In Municipal Government Board Meeting,” “Celebrate Diversity Breakfast,” and “LGBTQ+LO Membership Meeting.” The registration cost around $800, and hotel expenses were $2,500.
The City of Dallas did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment on these expenses.
