NORTH CAROLINA, USA — As billions of dollars flow into western North Carolina for Hurricane Helene recovery, the state auditor says his office is taking a closer look at how that money is being spent. North Carolina has already committed more than $1 billion in state recovery funding, with even more federal dollars expected to follow. Now, State Auditor Dave Boliek says his team is reviewing those funds line by line.
One of the first audits focuses on how community colleges used about $1.25 million set aside for mental health support after the storm.
During that review, Boliek says auditors found some expenses that raised concerns.
“We ran across some questionable expenses with respect to how that money was allocated,” Boliek said. “It was allocated to personal journals, succulent plants, bird watching. Things that really, from an audit standpoint, did not in a common-sense way fit with hurricane relief.”
In response to the audit, the colleges said they intended the purchases to be for mental health.
“Colleges were also informed that these mental health funds could be used to purchase research-informed instructional materials designed for education, therapeutic engagement, and professional development. Examples include wellness journals that aid in managing mental health conditions and horticultural materials that promote psychological well-being. These resources are grounded in evidence-based practices intended to support individuals who have experienced traumatic events such as the impact of Hurricane Helene,” one school wrote in response.
But they also understood how there wasn’t sufficient documentation to prove they qualify for these funds, so the schools will cover those purchases using other funding sources instead of the disaster relief money. The individual expenses were relatively small including about $350 for the bird-watching trip, but Boliek says the issue is bigger than the dollar amount. It’s about setting clear expectations for how disaster recovery funds should be used, especially as the state hopes to be reimbursed by the federal government.
“That is important for us to track those dollars so that the executives who get the money have a really good idea of whether those dollars can actually be reimbursed,” Boliek said.
With hundreds of millions already spent, Boliek says more audits are coming.
“We want to make sure we get the true story and take a look at that large tranche of money,” he said.
The auditor’s office expects to release more detailed reports on Hurricane Helene recovery spending in the coming weeks.
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