Audit 29138

Finding No. 2022-003 Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Federal Award Identification Number: SLFRP0128 Grant Year: 2021 Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Pass-Through Number(s): 12060-OPM20600-29669 Award Period: June 7, 2021, through December 31, 2026 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: The American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery requires that a Tier 2, NEU submit a Project and Expenditure Report on April 30, 2022, and quarterly thereafter. Condition: Controls over Project and Expenditure Reports did not exist to ensure accuracy of submitted data. Questioned Costs: None Context: The City submitted two Project and Expenditure Reports with no independent review of this report. Effect: Errors could be present and not detected by the City. Cause: Due to staff shortages and timeliness of reporting, the City did not obtain and document an independent review of the Project and Expenditure Reports prior to submission. Recommendation: We recommend that the City establish controls to ensure compliance with reporting requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the auditors? recommendations

Finding No. 2022-004 Procurement Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Federal Award Identification Number: SLFRP0128 Grant Year: 2021 Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Pass-Through Number(s): 12060-OPM20600-29669 Award Period: June 7, 2021, through December 31, 2026 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: The City must comply with procurement standards set out at 2 CFR sections 200.318 through 200.326 within Uniform Guidance including the verification that an entity with which the City plans to enter into a covered transaction is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded. Condition: The Cities procurement standards do not include the essential elements as outlined in 2 CFR sections 200.318 through 200.326. Policies regarding verification of compliance with suspension and debarment requirements were not found. Questioned Costs: None Context: Although the City did not have a policy in place in conformity with the federal Uniform Guidance criteria the population of expenditures requiring testing were immaterial or otherwise excluded from testing requirements. Effect: With the absence of a compliant policy, the City could process transactions that do not follow federal Uniform Guidance procurement standards. Cause: The City was in the process of updating their policy to be in line with the Uniform Guidance procurement standards, but was unable to finalize the policy prior to incurring allowable costs. Recommendation: We recommend the City comply with procurement standards set out at 2 CFR sections 200.318 through 200.326 within Uniform Guidance including the verification that an entity with which the City plans to enter into a covered transaction is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the auditors? recommendations

Finding No. 2022-003 Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Federal Award Identification Number: SLFRP0128 Grant Year: 2021 Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Pass-Through Number(s): 12060-OPM20600-29669 Award Period: June 7, 2021, through December 31, 2026 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: The American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery requires that a Tier 2, NEU submit a Project and Expenditure Report on April 30, 2022, and quarterly thereafter. Condition: Controls over Project and Expenditure Reports did not exist to ensure accuracy of submitted data. Questioned Costs: None Context: The City submitted two Project and Expenditure Reports with no independent review of this report. Effect: Errors could be present and not detected by the City. Cause: Due to staff shortages and timeliness of reporting, the City did not obtain and document an independent review of the Project and Expenditure Reports prior to submission. Recommendation: We recommend that the City establish controls to ensure compliance with reporting requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the auditors? recommendations

Finding No. 2022-004 Procurement Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program Name: COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Federal Award Identification Number: SLFRP0128 Grant Year: 2021 Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Pass-Through Number(s): 12060-OPM20600-29669 Award Period: June 7, 2021, through December 31, 2026 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: The City must comply with procurement standards set out at 2 CFR sections 200.318 through 200.326 within Uniform Guidance including the verification that an entity with which the City plans to enter into a covered transaction is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded. Condition: The Cities procurement standards do not include the essential elements as outlined in 2 CFR sections 200.318 through 200.326. Policies regarding verification of compliance with suspension and debarment requirements were not found. Questioned Costs: None Context: Although the City did not have a policy in place in conformity with the federal Uniform Guidance criteria the population of expenditures requiring testing were immaterial or otherwise excluded from testing requirements. Effect: With the absence of a compliant policy, the City could process transactions that do not follow federal Uniform Guidance procurement standards. Cause: The City was in the process of updating their policy to be in line with the Uniform Guidance procurement standards, but was unable to finalize the policy prior to incurring allowable costs. Recommendation: We recommend the City comply with procurement standards set out at 2 CFR sections 200.318 through 200.326 within Uniform Guidance including the verification that an entity with which the City plans to enter into a covered transaction is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the auditors? recommendations