North Carolina state regulators have determined that a nonprofit organization overseen by Yolanda Hill, the wife of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, must reimburse over $132,000 for what regulators have deemed as ineligible expenses incurred while managing a federally funded child care meal program. The state Department of Health and Human Services disclosed this in a letter sent to Hill following a compliance review of Balanced Nutrition Inc., a nonprofit where Hill serves as owner and chief financial officer.
The compliance review reported various issues, including inadequate paperwork and inaccurately reported expenses. State officials had initially announced in March that a review of Balanced Nutrition would commence on April 15, months after Hill had already announced the closure of the nonprofit and withdrawal from the program on April 30.
In addition to the $24,400 that the Greensboro nonprofit owes the state for unverified expenses provided to child care providers, the letter dated Friday detailed $107,719 in ineligible claims and expenses that were incurred by Balanced Nutrition during the first quarter of the year. $80,000 of these costs were attributed to administrative and operating labor without specifying details about the labor expenses.
The compliance review also pointed out that Balanced Nutrition should have disclosed and received approval for employing Hill’s daughter. Legal representation for Balanced Nutrition and Hill, Tyler Brooks, expressed concerns over the review’s timing, insinuating potential political bias due to Hill’s connection to Robinson, who is running for governor.
Balanced Nutrition, which has received approximately $7 million in government funding since 2017, provided assistance to child care centers participating in meal programs, submitting claims for meal reimbursements and ensuring compliance. The nonprofit received a portion of the reimbursements as compensation.
This recent development raises questions about the financial management and oversight of the nonprofit, prompting scrutiny from state regulators. Although the amounts owed and potential disqualification from the program are subject to appeal, it highlights the ongoing challenges faced by organizations handling public funds and the importance of transparency and accountability in their operations.
