RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor released a special report on April 20 on the use of Hurricane Helene mental health funds, citing purchases such as rhinoceros-shaped stress balls, succulent plants and other comfort items and events at three community colleges, including one in Western North Carolina.
Following Helene, which hit on Sept. 27, 2024, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $16.75 million to the North Carolina Community College System, including $1.25 million for Expanded Mental Health Support (EMHS) for students and staff affected by the storm, according to a news release.
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As part of its ongoing monitoring of Helene funds, the state auditor’s Rapid Response Division reviewed select expenditures at three community colleges, including Blue Ridge Community College. The report showed that the college spent $10,570 on 800 wellness journals and $1,651 on succulent plants and pots.
Other colleges used EMHS funds for items such as stress balls, T-shirts, flowers, red-light and salt therapy, foot detox sessions and guided birdwatching strolls.
“Financial resources tend to become entangled in a web of spending when disaster strikes, which is why our office is working to bring transparency to how hurricane relief funds are spent,” said State Auditor Dave Boliek in the release. “By keeping lawmakers, stakeholders and the public informed on hurricane relief spending, we can continue to improve how North Carolina responds to natural disasters.”
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Gaston College spent $5,223 on 2,000 rhinoceros-shaped stress balls. Wilkes Community College spent $350 on guided birdwatching and also used funds for pizza, gift cards and event materials for a “Sobriety Bowl” event, the release said.
Responses from the community colleges are included in the report. The state auditor’s office recommended classifying expenditures that do not clearly align with the purpose of EMHS funds under institutional or student activity funds, correcting prepaid accounting errors, and strengthening pre-approval, coding, documentation and vendor controls before charging purchases to EMHS funds.
Blue Ridge Community College noted it would limit the use of EMHS funds to mental health services only. Two of the colleges also said certain expenses identified in the report would be reclassified to institutional or student activity funds.
The special report identified weaknesses in procurement documentation and controls, increasing the risk of unauthorized purchases, improper payments and reduced accountability. The state auditor’s review of EMHS spending across the community college system found additional uses for the funds, including counseling and respite sessions, workshops, critical-incident stress management and student assistance programs.