GREENSBORO, N.C. — A nonprofit owned by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's (R - North Carolina) wife must pay the state back more than $132,000, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. An NCDHHS audit found Balanced Nutrition, Inc. in Greensboro misreported its operating costs to the state.
The discrepancy in the reporting led the state to reimburse the nonprofit for more than it should have. For example, the NCDHHS found the nonprofit reported nearly $20,000 in administration costs for one month. The state could only verify that Balanced Nutrition only spent a little more than $1,000.
Balanced Nutrition, Inc. has shut down in April. It was owned and operated by Yolanda Hill, the wife of Lt. Gov. Robinson. Robinson is from Greensboro and is the Republican nominee for governor.
Robinson's campaign sent the following statement on Monday:
“These findings are politically motivated at the core. Last year, an independent auditor issued a report on Balanced Nutrition, Inc. (BNI) with no material findings. Yet as soon as Mark Robinson announced his campaign for governor in April 2023, the Democrat-run state agency started moving the goalposts. Just as they are doing against President Trump, Democrats are weaponizing the bureaucracy to grind a political ax against their opponents. Needless to say, BNI is aware of these findings, vehemently disagrees with them, and is looking forward to challenging them on appeal.”
WFMY News 2 reached out to Hill three separate times on Friday but could not reach her.
WFMY News 2 also emailed the nonprofit's attorney, but we have not heard back.
Balanced Nutrition Inc.'s website says the nonprofit works to help childcare providers get the most out of the child and adult care food program - a federal aid program that helps people in need have access to food.
NCDHHS announced plans to review the group in March, prior to the nonprofit closing its doors.
Balanced Nutrition, Inc. has two weeks to either pay back the money or appeal the state's findings.
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