Lowndes County supervisors are now asking the State Auditor’s Office to investigate the financial decline at East Mississippi Community College.
Supervisors voted unanimously to request the state investigation in its regular meeting Monday morning, with EMCC President Scott Alsobrooks, who was present at the Lowndes County Courthouse, vowing to cooperate.
But when the EMCC board of trustees met Monday night in Scooba, a potential auditor’s investigation or any discussion of the college’s financial situation, took about 90 seconds of a nearly two-hour open session.
“(The Lowndes County board of supervisors) passed a motion to call the state auditor and ask them to do an audit on East Mississippi Community College,” Alsobrooks told the EMCC board of trustees. “I don’t know what will come of that … but Lowndes County board of supervisors (is) going to ask them to come in and take a deep dive into our books. I don’t know what will come of that, but I will keep you informed.”
The board’s response to that revelation was mute and members instead heard presentations about campus updates, upgrades, student involvement and the Communiversity — a $42 million workforce training center in Lowndes County funded by local, state, EMCC and Appalachian Regional Commission funds.
Supervisors’ request for a state auditor’s investigation comes after information about the college’s finances came to the fore last week. EMCC’s general operating fund balance has declined by about $10 million since 2010, with athletics spending and declining enrollment dubbed the primary culprits.
Logan Reeves, a representative from the State Auditor’s Office, said as of Monday afternoon the office had not received the board’s request for an investigation of EMCC. He added he could not comment if EMCC had any open investigations, but an investigation would begin once the office receives the county’s complaint.
“Each community college in the state of Mississippi undergoes audit every year,” Reeves said. “Our office will be happy to look into any complaint by the board of supervisors and we will take that seriously.”
EMCC’s main campus is in Scooba, but also has a Golden Triangle campus in Mayhew, the Communiversity and Lion Hills Center and Country Club in Columbus.
EMCC’s board of trustees is comprised of two members from each of the counties EMCC serves: Lowndes, Lauderdale, Oktibbeha, Clay, Noxubee and Kemper. Those members are voted to the EMCC board from each county’s board of supervisors.
‘I don’t want you to take this personally’
During the board of supervisors meeting Monday morning, Alsobrooks addressed board members with a fact sheet, showing the college’s reliance on Lowndes County. Nearly 1,100 students from Lowndes County attended an EMCC campus in 2018-19, Alsobrooks said, which is the most students from any county.
President Harry Sanders requested Alsobrooks be present after last week’s supervisors meeting where a citizen requested supervisors replace the Lowndes County representatives, Lance Walters and Greg Stewart, on the EMCC board of trustees.
Alsobrooks said Monday that Stewart and Walters served as valued members of the board.
“Coming from an industrial background, I think it’s good to have representation from the industrial sector,” Alsobrooks said. “We are being asked to train the workforce of tomorrow. … It’s very good to have people from Paccar or business manager from Aurora, like Lance and Greg are.”
While Alsobrooks — who began his role as EMCC president in January — still stood at the podium following his presentation, Sanders called for a motion to investigate the college’s finances.
“I don’t want you to take this personally because you just got here,” Sanders said. “I feel like you probably just jumped into a hornets’ nest. After (the citizen) accused our board members … a lot of people called me — I guess you would say they were whistleblowers — and talked about the funding. You said the reserves have gone down and there’s some accusations that’s because of the athletics.
“I’m concerned and I think the board of supervisors should be concerned,” he added. “We’ve obligated $10 million over the next 10 years for the Communiversity. … We’re concerned that our money might be used for some of these other things.”
The Communiversity is the college’s new industrial building slated to open this month. The facility was funded through $18 million in state bonds, $10.7 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission, $10 million from Lowndes County, $2.5 million from Oktibbeha County, $1 million from Clay County and $400,000 from EMCC. With the financial decline of EMCC, the loss of $10 million in its general fund over the last decade, Sanders said he had growing concerns of the allocation of the county’s fund. Supervisors unanimously agreed to move forward with the request for the state auditor to investigate.
‘We can’t compromise education’
District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks addressed Alsobrooks and said the college’s priority should be educating students.
“I understand the role of athletics,” Brooks said. “This is no reflection of those doing their job. I don’t want anybody to misunderstand (and think) that we have problem with EMCC. It is an integral part of our community. I think it’s our responsibility to make sure it is sound and those people that have a desire to go to EMCC can. We can’t compromise education.”
While standing silently at the podium after the board’s vote, Alsobrooks thanked supervisors and vowed to help with the upcoming investigation.
“I respect what you’re doing,” Alsobrooks said. “I will cooperate in any and all manners. We have a great faculty and staff at East Mississippi Community College and they’re embarrassed by some of what’s happening, and I want to stand up for our faculty and staff.”
After the meeting, Sanders told The Dispatch that, with rumors circulating, his concerns with the county’s investment in the Communiversity have steadily increased.
“I want to make sure it’s spent properly,” Sanders said. “I’m concerned about that. We’ve got some industry and manufacturers making donations and I want to make sure that money is spent where it’s supposed to go. There’s no oversight other than our two board members. There’s some people that don’t want that to happen.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.