Audit 303663

Finding 2023-002: Approval for Charging Interest Questioned costs: $28,563 How questioned costs were determined: This is the amount of interest expense charged to the grants during the year ended September 30, 2023. Grant Funding Source Grant Period HEAP 22B-4028 CA State Dept of CSD 11/01/2021 - 12/31/2023 HEAP 23B-5028 CA State Dept of CSD 11/01/2022 - 06/30/2024 Condition: In a prior year, Community Resource Project, Inc. received an Equity Equivalent Investment loan from a financial institution that was intended for the purpose of rehabilitating single-family or multi-family complexes for energy staff to use as training with intent to sell/rent to the low-income community. Due to staff changes, the program never began and the funds were returned to the bank in November 2023. Criteria: Community Resource Project, Inc. incurred interest costs that were charged to its LIHEAP grants; however, there was no benefit to the program as the program never commenced as planned. Funding source approval was not obtained prior to incurring such interest expense and charging it to grants. Cause: Community Resource Project, Inc. experienced staffing changes resulting in the program never starting and management electing to hold the funds during this time. Effect: A significant deficiency in internal control over compliance and a non-material non-compliance exists due to the failure to obtain proper funding source approval and not returning the funds earlier. Recommendation: We recommend Community Resource Project, Inc. implement systems and procedures to ensure proper funding source approval is obtained when required. View of Responsible Officials: We agree with the recommendation and have begun implementing additional procedures.

Finding 2023-002: Approval for Charging Interest Questioned costs: $28,563 How questioned costs were determined: This is the amount of interest expense charged to the grants during the year ended September 30, 2023. Grant Funding Source Grant Period HEAP 22B-4028 CA State Dept of CSD 11/01/2021 - 12/31/2023 HEAP 23B-5028 CA State Dept of CSD 11/01/2022 - 06/30/2024 Condition: In a prior year, Community Resource Project, Inc. received an Equity Equivalent Investment loan from a financial institution that was intended for the purpose of rehabilitating single-family or multi-family complexes for energy staff to use as training with intent to sell/rent to the low-income community. Due to staff changes, the program never began and the funds were returned to the bank in November 2023. Criteria: Community Resource Project, Inc. incurred interest costs that were charged to its LIHEAP grants; however, there was no benefit to the program as the program never commenced as planned. Funding source approval was not obtained prior to incurring such interest expense and charging it to grants. Cause: Community Resource Project, Inc. experienced staffing changes resulting in the program never starting and management electing to hold the funds during this time. Effect: A significant deficiency in internal control over compliance and a non-material non-compliance exists due to the failure to obtain proper funding source approval and not returning the funds earlier. Recommendation: We recommend Community Resource Project, Inc. implement systems and procedures to ensure proper funding source approval is obtained when required. View of Responsible Officials: We agree with the recommendation and have begun implementing additional procedures.