NC Gov. Josh Stein signs 5 new Helene relief orders. New state auditor says he has questions.

New North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein took his first official action as governor Thursday, traveling to Asheville to sign five new executive orders focused on Hurricane Helene relief.

Two of the new orders are focused on creating a new state government agency focused specifically on western North Carolina disaster recovery, as well as an advisory committee for that new agency on the same topic made up of local leaders. He's calling it GROW NC — the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina.

Stein also gave state employees 16 additional hours of paid time off, which can only be used on disaster relief efforts. And he lifted state purchasing rules that normally constrain state officials when signing contracts or buying products. He didn't lift the rules for all situations. Instead, he made several targeted changes, which he said are aimed at speeding up the work of rebuilding roads and bridges — particularly those owned by private people or groups instead of the government — as well as the construction of new temporary housing options.

Stein said approximately 12,000 people in western North Carolina still don't have safe housing following Helene, a particularly pressing concern as temperatures continue to drop.

"Winter is here in western North Carolina, and we must act quickly to get people in temporary housing, repair private roads and bridges, and keep people safe,” Stein said in a written statement. “I will do everything in my power to make sure we are both thinking creatively and acting swiftly to help our neighbors recover.”

In the new Democratic governor's speech on Thursday in Asheville, flanked by local government officials and state lawmakers from both political parties, he said his goal is to get aid funding spent efficiently, but also quickly.

"We want every dollar dedicated to recovery — whether federal, state, local or charitable — to be spent as efficiently, impactfully and quickly as possible," Stein said in his speech. "That's why I'm committed to doing everything in my power to make sure it gets where it needs to go as soon, and as cost-effectively, as possible. That's what the people of western North Carolina deserve."

Auditor reacts

Balancing a desire for speed with a desire not to waste money could present a challenge for those handling the recovery response.

After Stein's announcement Thursday, new State Auditor Dave Boliek, a Republican, issued a statement saying he agreed with Stein on the urgency of relief and indicated that his staff and Stein's staff had worked together on at least some of the new executive orders. But Boliek also noted the state government's slow and over-budget efforts to rebuild homes damaged in hurricanes Matthew and Florence under Stein's predecessor, former Gov. Roy Cooper.

Boliek listed several questions that he said Stein's new executive order raised — including where Stein plans to get the money for the 1,000 temporary housing units he intends to speed up with the change to state purchasing rules, as well as how the state will decide who gets priority for receiving those housing units or for getting their roads rebuilt. He indicated his office will closely audit Stein's new disaster relief agency.

"Given past failures to effectively provide hurricane relief to Eastern North Carolina, it is in the best interest of Hurricane Helene victims that our office takes such action," Boliek wrote, addressing Stein. "I look forward to collaborating with you, and the other Council of State members, in the future as we work toward a recovery effort that leaves no family behind."

Stein spokeswoman Morgan Hopkins said the governor's office had been in touch with the auditor's office on the executive orders before Stein signed them, and that Stein will continue working with Boliek and other elected officials on Helene recovery.

"Governor Stein made clear yesterday that his recovery efforts will be guided by four pillars: urgency, focus, transparency, and accountability," she said. "We appreciate the concurrence on the Executive Orders by members of the Council of State and have been in touch with the Auditor's office. We look forward to continued partnership with all Council of State members as we work to rebuild western North Carolina."