(The Center Square) – Three community colleges in North Carolina used a portion of $1.25 million for Hurricane Helene mental health funds for birdwatching, succulents and rhinoceros-shaped stress balls.
Blue Ridge Community College, Gaston College nor Wilkes Community College provided the Office of State Auditor with documents explaining how the expenditures qualified to be charged to hurricane-related expanded mental health support funds.
In addition, Wilkes Community College used funds for pizza, gift cards and event materials at a Sobriety Bowl on its Alleghany Campus on Jan. 28 and 30, 2025.
First-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek’s report said disaster preparedness and response have been monitored in the storm’s aftermath. Compliance was checked against the North Carolina Community Colleges Accounting Procedures Manual and Reference Guide, and the North Carolina Statewide Accounting Policy.
“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,” Boliek said. “By keeping lawmakers, stakeholders, and the public informed on hurricane relief spending, we can continue to improve how North Carolina responds to natural disasters.”
The report found Blue Ridge Community College spent $10,570 on 800 wellness journals and $1,651 on succulents and pots. Gaston College spent $5,223 on 2,000 rhinoceros-shaped stress balls.
At Wilkes Community College, some $350 was spent on guided birdwatching, listening to bird songs and observing wildflowers at the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir.
In a release, Boliek’s office said, “The special report also identified weaknesses in procurement documentation and controls, increasing the risk of unauthorized purchases, improper payments, and reduced accountability. OSA’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.
“OSA 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 preapproval, coding, documentation, and vendor controls before charging purchases to EMHS funds.”
