audit
HUD Inspector General: No “reasonable assurance” that ReBuild NC properly spent $2.5 million in Hurricane Matthew disaster relief
A new federal Inspector General's report found that ReBuild NC couldn't provide "reasonable assurance" that $2.5 million in Hurricane Matthew disaster relief funds had been "properly spent," according to an audit dated Sept. 16 and published by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. If the state can't provide documentation for those expenditures, it must repay those funds to HUD.
An NC town employee took more than $430,000 for her personal use, a state audit says
A former Spring Lake town employee took more than $430,000 in town money for her personal use, according to a state audit released Thursday. The town’s accounting technician wrote 72 checks between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021 that were deposited into her credit union account, into her husband’s account, or were used to […]
COVID-19 pandemic exposed state unemployment office flaws. Audit says state failed to meet federal standards for timely payments.
The state Employment Security Commission took too long to pay unemployment benefits to people who lost their jobs in the first year of the pandemic. The lapse meant that $438 million in first payments were late getting to unemployed people between Jan. 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, according to a new state audit report. […]
Audit: Mayor used confidential information in purchase of town property
The state Auditor’s Office says that the mayor of a coastal town used confidential information to buy town property at a price not available to the public. Ocean Isle Mayor Debbie Smith purchased land and a former police department building at the appraised value of $460,000 for a real estate company that she co-owns. The […]
State audit: Former town finance officer used taxpayer money for her utility bills and other questionable purchases
An investigative audit into spending in the small Scotland County town of East Laurinburg found that a former finance director used town money to pay her utility bills and used taxpayer dollars to make purchases without showing those expenses were connected to town business. As a result, the town’s bank account was overdrafted and it […]
State audit faults oversight of $3.1 billion in coronavirus relief
The state Pandemic Recovery Office did not monitor spending of $3.1 billion in federal pandemic funds in a way that would catch misuse in a timely way, according to a state audit released Thursday. The recovery office required recipients provide receipts and monthly spending reports with supporting documentation, the audit said. But the office did […]
Report: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction should modernize, streamline services
A newly released organizational assessment of North Carolina’s K-12 oversight agency says the state could save some cash by modernizing its information technology and streamlining services. The report, prepared by international consulting agency Ernst & Young, estimated the state’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) could ultimately save more than $5 million by implementing 18 recommendations, […]
State Board of Education to hear Department of Public Instruction audit Tuesday
North Carolina’s State Board of Education will hear Tuesday from consultants at Ernst & Young on the results of a controversial audit ordered by the Republican-controlled state legislature last year. No copy of the report was available at press time Monday afternoon, but it comes amid lingering tension between the public school agency and the […]
Audit: DHHS skipped child abuse registry check on adoptive parents, overpaid for many Medicaid services
An annual audit of North Carolina’s compliance with federal human services programs uncovered significant issues at the state’s health agency, including overpaying for Medicaid services and skipping a background check for adoptive parents. The audit released on March 31 found problems with nearly every program they checked at the N.C. Department of Health and Human […]
Medicaid system broken? Report finds McCrory admin downplayed explanations for problems
The state Medicaid system, and its very troubled billing system called N.C. Tracks, is the topic of a much anticipated legislative oversight committee hearing happening this morning. You can watch here, through a live stream offered by Raleigh TV station WRAL. Also check out this story today from. N.C. Health News that found McCrory administration […]
McCrory wants surplus state money to go to Medicaid
Republican Gov. Pat McCrory issued a memorandum this afternoon to state agencies directing them to stop salary increases and send extra dollars to the state Medicaid office to offset an anticipated budget shortfall. McCrory’s memorandum came with a critical reference to his predecessor, former Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue, and how her office dealt with Medicaid […]
Problems identified by Medicaid audit largely result of NC Republican’s own budget
Today’s headlines highlight a audit of the state Medicaid program that shows an over $1 billion shortfall. “Shocked, shocked, I tell you!” are Republican Governor Pat McCrory and DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos that the Medicaid agency did not meet its budget: Dr. Aldona Wos, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said […]