Watchdog Group Says NC Recovery Funds Delayed

A state government watchdog agency says delays have plagued recovery spending from the damage of Hurricane Matthew.

North Carolina has received more than $200 million dollars in federal grants to rebuild and recover from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. But more than two years after it made landfall, only 1 percent of that money has been spent.

South Carolina, which received a similar award, has spent 22 percent during the same time period.

The non-partisan Program Evaluation Division says North Carolina was inexperienced with the type of grant it received. Their report says a lack of expertise as well as administrative mistakes contributed to the delays. It also found more than $3 million dollars in unnecessary state spending.

State recovery leaders acknowledged their inexperience led to a delay, but disagreed with some of the report's conclusions.