FLAT ROCK — A report from the state auditor has found “significant misstatements” in financial statements submitted by Blue Ridge Community College.

The college misclassified or understated 10 items in its financial report for the year ending June 30, auditors said.
The audit also found problems with the way the school distributed some duties. For instance, it noted, the equipment coordinator who tags equipment as it comes in should not do equipment audits alone.

Chris Mears, director of public affairs for the Office of the State Auditor, said that while the money was all accounted for, many items were not properly listed.

All North Carolina community colleges must submit a financial report to the state every two years.

But this report carries a special significance, coming on the heels of a special audit in 2006 that found that the school’s baseball coach, Damon Towe, deposited $7,298 in work-study checks into his personal business account, which he then used to pay rent for his players.

Then-President David Sink, who was Towe’s boss at the time, retired shortly thereafter.