Audit 305135

FY End
2022-06-30
Total Expended
$9.39M
Findings
8
Programs
8
Organization: City of Huntington Park (CA)
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2024-04-30

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
395398 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes L
395399 2022-002 Significant Deficiency Yes P
395400 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes P
395401 2022-004 Significant Deficiency Yes I
971840 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes L
971841 2022-002 Significant Deficiency Yes P
971842 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes P
971843 2022-004 Significant Deficiency Yes I

Contacts

Name Title Type
NPKFKTS9QQD6 Jeff Jones Auditee
3235846201 Eden Casareno Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards is presented using the modified accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the Cost Principles contained in the Uniform Guidance wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (Schedule) includes the federal award activity of City of Huntington Park (City) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2022. The information in this Schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the City, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of the City.
Title: LOAN PROGRAMS WITH CONTINUING COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards is presented using the modified accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the Cost Principles contained in the Uniform Guidance wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate The City directly administers federal loan programs under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which are subject to continuing compliance requirements for outstanding loans. CDBG loans are authorized under Section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as a loan guarantee component. HOME loans have continuing compliance requirements related to continuous occupancy and eligibility of the borrowers. The outstanding balances on loans of the programs with continuing compliance requirements as of June 30, 2022 were as follows.

Finding Details

2022-001 - Reporting (SD, NC) Federal Program Title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Federal Catalog Number: 21.027 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Category of Finding: Reporting Criteria: Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI, Compliance Supplement July 2022 Part 4 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (page 4-21.027-7), the annual reporting requirement for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds is through the submission of the initial Interim Report, quarterly Project and Expenditure Report, and the Recovery Plan Performance Report. The interim report is a one time report that provides an initial overview of status and use of funding. The Project and Expenditure Report details the financial data, projects funded, expenditures and contracts over $50,000. The Recovery Plan Performance report is not a required report for the City due to their population size falling under the 250,000 requirement. Condition: During our audit, the City was unable to provide evidence of reporting for fiscal year 2022. Cause: Lack of appropriate control over reporting, mainly due to turn-over in City personnel. Effect or Potential Effect: Noncompliance may result in termination of the grant, reduction in future payments or funding amounts, repayment of federal funds already received and spent, imposed fines and penalties, reputational damage, special status for oversight and reviews, need for corrective action plan, and/or suspension or debarment. Questioned Cost: None. Context: The City was unable to provide evidence that the appropriate reports were submitted for fiscal year 2022. Statistical Sampling Validity: Not applicable. No sampling was performed. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: Yes, 2021-003 Recommendation: The City should design and establish internal controls over reporting, which should include maintaining copies of reports submitted for audit. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the finding. The staff responsible for this control during FY 2022 are no longer employed by the City. Corrective Action Plan: Current City Finance staff in conjunction with a third-party organization, Michael Baker, to ensure timely filing. Planned Implementation Date: started in Q4 FY 2023 and has continued into FY 2024
2022-002 - Internal Control over Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation (SD, NC) Criteria: Pursuant to the guidance found in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI, the City has responsibility to: Identify, in its accounts, all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received. Federal program and award identification shall include, as applicable, the assistance listing title and number, award number and year, name of the Federal agency, and name of the pass-through entity. Prepare appropriate financial statements, including the schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA). Condition: One of the programs in the SEFA had an incorrect federal grantor, program name, and assistance listing number. Cause: Lack of adequate attention to detail of grant agreements. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to report expenditures by its correct federal grantor, program name and assistance listing number exposes the City to be flagged by the awarding Federal agency, for grant sanctions and the rectification of its reported records to the Federal Clearing House. Questioned Cost: None Context: The draft SEFA prepared by the City for audit reported that the City expended Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Fund (assistance listing number 16.034) from the US Department of Justice. Upon review of the grant award, the grant actually came from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Block Grant program (assistance listing number 14.218) Statistical Sampling Validity: Not applicable. Sampling was not performed in relation to this finding. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: 2019-012, 2021-004 Recommendation: We recommend the City implement grant award tracking procedures, which provide information on which expenditures were drawn down from which grant award ID for an accurate reporting of the breakdown of expenditures. We recommend the City be cognizant and obtain a thorough understanding of current SEFA reporting guidelines and requirements under the Uniform Guidance. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the finding. Corrective Action Plan: Finance staff will be trained to monitor the different grants that are received and appropriately record the data. A third-party consultant has established a reconciliation and tracking system for grants. Planned Implementation Date: Began in Q4 FY 2023 and continues in FY 2024 Responsible Person: Finance Staff
2022-003 - Filing of Single Audit Report (MW, NC) Criteria: Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR section 200.512(a) Report submission... "The audit must be completed and the data collection form... must be submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor's report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the reporting package is due the next business day..." Condition: The City did not timely submit the Single Audit Reporting Package for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 within nine months after the end of audit period. Cause: The City had been severely behind on its recording and reconciliations for financial transactions for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to lack of qualified staff within the Finance Department. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to submit the required Single Audit Reporting Package timely automatically results in the City not qualifying for low-risk auditee status for the following year's single audit. In addition, failure to file the required Single Audit Reporting Package timely could result in the loss of Federal funding. Questioned Cost: None Context: The Single Audit Reporting Package for the past six years has not been submitted within the due dates established by the Office of Management and Budget. The FY 2017 package was submitted 6 months after the due date; the FY 2018 package was submitted 11 months after the due date; the FY 2019 package was submitted 19 months after the due date; the FY 2020 package was submitted 23 months after the due date; the FY 2021 package was submitted 18 months after it was due. The City's FY 2022 Single Audit Reporting Package was due on March 31, 2023. Statistical Sampling Validity: Not applicable. Sampling was not performed in relation to this finding. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: Yes, 2019-013, 2021-005 Recommendation: We recommend the City bring its accounting records up to date and have financial statement and Single Audits prepared timely. We also recommend the City develop, document, and implement policies and procedures for timely submission of the Single Audit Reporting Package. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the recommendation Corrective Action Plan: The Finance Department continues to bring its accounting records and account reconciliations up to date and is working on having the financial statements and Single Audits prepared in a timely manner. The City is also working on developing, documenting, and implementing policies and procedures for timely submission of the Single Audit Reporting Package. As of March 2024, the City has had all audits through FY 2022 completed and is completing the FY 2022 single audit in April 2024. Planned Implementation Date: June 30, 2024 Responsible Person: Director of Finance
2022-004 - Internal Control over Procurement (SD, NC) Criteria: Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI, Compliance Supplement August 2022, sections 3.2-I-1 through 3.2-I-3: "Non-Federal entities other than States... must use their own documented procurement procedures, which reflect applicable state and local laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable Federal statutes and the procurement requirements identified in 2 CFR part 200. A non-Federal entity must: 1. Meet the general procurement standards in 2 CFR section 200.318, which include oversight of contracters' performance, maintaining written standards of conduct for employees involved in contracting, awarding contracts only to responsible contractors, and maintaining records to document history of procurements... Cost-Reimbursement Contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation subcontracts, non-Federal entities receiving cost-reimbursement contracts under the FAR must comply with the clauses at 48 CFR section 52.244-2 (consent to subcontract), 52.244-5 (competition), 52.203-13 (code of business ethics), 52.203-16 (conflicts of interest), and 52.215.12 (cost or pricing data); and the terms and conditions of the contract. The FAR defines "subcontracts" as a contraact, i.e., a mutually binding legal relationship obligation the seller to furnish the supplies or services (including construction) and the buyer to pay for them, entered into by a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or a subcontract. It includes, but is not limited to, purchase orders, and changes and modifications to purchase orders. Condition: The City does not have a current official written policy for procurement and contracts conforming to applicable Federal statutes and the updated procurement requirements per 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). The City effective Conflict Interest Code did not include the required language per the Uniform Guidance. Cause: Lack of formal policies and procedures over current required procurement standards and lack of internal controls and adequate staff training on effective requirements set forth by the Uniform Guidance over procurement. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to document and retain evidence that procurement procedures were followed could result in the need to reimburse Federal funds. Questioned Cost: None Context: The City does not have an effective purchasing manual for city-wide use. The City-provided policy and procedure document establishing purchasing guidelines is for Finance Department use. We noted that this document was last updated on September 7, 2004 and does not contain the language required by the Uniform Guidance. We reviewed the City's current effective conflict of interest code and purchasing policy and procedure document and noted no provisions containing the required language per the Uniform Guidance. Statistical Sampling Validity: Non-statistical sampling was performed in relation to this finding. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: Yes, 2019-014, 2021-006 Recommendation: We recommend the City establish an official written policy for procurement and contracting and Conflict of Interest Code that are in line with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. (MW) (SD) (BP) (NC) -17- The policy should contain components for compliance with and references to Federal requirements, such as language establishing contract files that document significant procurement history; methods of procurement authorized including selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis of contract price; verification that procurements provide full and open competition when required; requirements for cost or price analysis, including for contract modifications; obtaining and reacting to suspension and debarment. The City should strengthen its procurement internal controls based on this official written policy. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the recommendation. Corrective Action Plan: The City will continue to address this finding through updating of policies and procedures for City-wide use. Update: in November 2023 the City updated the policies and procedures manual that was accepted by the DOJ in December 2023. Planned Implementation Date: June 30, 2024 Responsible Person: Finance Department
2022-001 - Reporting (SD, NC) Federal Program Title: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Federal Catalog Number: 21.027 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Category of Finding: Reporting Criteria: Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI, Compliance Supplement July 2022 Part 4 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (page 4-21.027-7), the annual reporting requirement for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds is through the submission of the initial Interim Report, quarterly Project and Expenditure Report, and the Recovery Plan Performance Report. The interim report is a one time report that provides an initial overview of status and use of funding. The Project and Expenditure Report details the financial data, projects funded, expenditures and contracts over $50,000. The Recovery Plan Performance report is not a required report for the City due to their population size falling under the 250,000 requirement. Condition: During our audit, the City was unable to provide evidence of reporting for fiscal year 2022. Cause: Lack of appropriate control over reporting, mainly due to turn-over in City personnel. Effect or Potential Effect: Noncompliance may result in termination of the grant, reduction in future payments or funding amounts, repayment of federal funds already received and spent, imposed fines and penalties, reputational damage, special status for oversight and reviews, need for corrective action plan, and/or suspension or debarment. Questioned Cost: None. Context: The City was unable to provide evidence that the appropriate reports were submitted for fiscal year 2022. Statistical Sampling Validity: Not applicable. No sampling was performed. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: Yes, 2021-003 Recommendation: The City should design and establish internal controls over reporting, which should include maintaining copies of reports submitted for audit. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the finding. The staff responsible for this control during FY 2022 are no longer employed by the City. Corrective Action Plan: Current City Finance staff in conjunction with a third-party organization, Michael Baker, to ensure timely filing. Planned Implementation Date: started in Q4 FY 2023 and has continued into FY 2024
2022-002 - Internal Control over Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation (SD, NC) Criteria: Pursuant to the guidance found in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI, the City has responsibility to: Identify, in its accounts, all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received. Federal program and award identification shall include, as applicable, the assistance listing title and number, award number and year, name of the Federal agency, and name of the pass-through entity. Prepare appropriate financial statements, including the schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA). Condition: One of the programs in the SEFA had an incorrect federal grantor, program name, and assistance listing number. Cause: Lack of adequate attention to detail of grant agreements. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to report expenditures by its correct federal grantor, program name and assistance listing number exposes the City to be flagged by the awarding Federal agency, for grant sanctions and the rectification of its reported records to the Federal Clearing House. Questioned Cost: None Context: The draft SEFA prepared by the City for audit reported that the City expended Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Fund (assistance listing number 16.034) from the US Department of Justice. Upon review of the grant award, the grant actually came from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Block Grant program (assistance listing number 14.218) Statistical Sampling Validity: Not applicable. Sampling was not performed in relation to this finding. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: 2019-012, 2021-004 Recommendation: We recommend the City implement grant award tracking procedures, which provide information on which expenditures were drawn down from which grant award ID for an accurate reporting of the breakdown of expenditures. We recommend the City be cognizant and obtain a thorough understanding of current SEFA reporting guidelines and requirements under the Uniform Guidance. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the finding. Corrective Action Plan: Finance staff will be trained to monitor the different grants that are received and appropriately record the data. A third-party consultant has established a reconciliation and tracking system for grants. Planned Implementation Date: Began in Q4 FY 2023 and continues in FY 2024 Responsible Person: Finance Staff
2022-003 - Filing of Single Audit Report (MW, NC) Criteria: Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR section 200.512(a) Report submission... "The audit must be completed and the data collection form... must be submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor's report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the reporting package is due the next business day..." Condition: The City did not timely submit the Single Audit Reporting Package for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 within nine months after the end of audit period. Cause: The City had been severely behind on its recording and reconciliations for financial transactions for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to lack of qualified staff within the Finance Department. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to submit the required Single Audit Reporting Package timely automatically results in the City not qualifying for low-risk auditee status for the following year's single audit. In addition, failure to file the required Single Audit Reporting Package timely could result in the loss of Federal funding. Questioned Cost: None Context: The Single Audit Reporting Package for the past six years has not been submitted within the due dates established by the Office of Management and Budget. The FY 2017 package was submitted 6 months after the due date; the FY 2018 package was submitted 11 months after the due date; the FY 2019 package was submitted 19 months after the due date; the FY 2020 package was submitted 23 months after the due date; the FY 2021 package was submitted 18 months after it was due. The City's FY 2022 Single Audit Reporting Package was due on March 31, 2023. Statistical Sampling Validity: Not applicable. Sampling was not performed in relation to this finding. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: Yes, 2019-013, 2021-005 Recommendation: We recommend the City bring its accounting records up to date and have financial statement and Single Audits prepared timely. We also recommend the City develop, document, and implement policies and procedures for timely submission of the Single Audit Reporting Package. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the recommendation Corrective Action Plan: The Finance Department continues to bring its accounting records and account reconciliations up to date and is working on having the financial statements and Single Audits prepared in a timely manner. The City is also working on developing, documenting, and implementing policies and procedures for timely submission of the Single Audit Reporting Package. As of March 2024, the City has had all audits through FY 2022 completed and is completing the FY 2022 single audit in April 2024. Planned Implementation Date: June 30, 2024 Responsible Person: Director of Finance
2022-004 - Internal Control over Procurement (SD, NC) Criteria: Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI, Compliance Supplement August 2022, sections 3.2-I-1 through 3.2-I-3: "Non-Federal entities other than States... must use their own documented procurement procedures, which reflect applicable state and local laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable Federal statutes and the procurement requirements identified in 2 CFR part 200. A non-Federal entity must: 1. Meet the general procurement standards in 2 CFR section 200.318, which include oversight of contracters' performance, maintaining written standards of conduct for employees involved in contracting, awarding contracts only to responsible contractors, and maintaining records to document history of procurements... Cost-Reimbursement Contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation subcontracts, non-Federal entities receiving cost-reimbursement contracts under the FAR must comply with the clauses at 48 CFR section 52.244-2 (consent to subcontract), 52.244-5 (competition), 52.203-13 (code of business ethics), 52.203-16 (conflicts of interest), and 52.215.12 (cost or pricing data); and the terms and conditions of the contract. The FAR defines "subcontracts" as a contraact, i.e., a mutually binding legal relationship obligation the seller to furnish the supplies or services (including construction) and the buyer to pay for them, entered into by a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or a subcontract. It includes, but is not limited to, purchase orders, and changes and modifications to purchase orders. Condition: The City does not have a current official written policy for procurement and contracts conforming to applicable Federal statutes and the updated procurement requirements per 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). The City effective Conflict Interest Code did not include the required language per the Uniform Guidance. Cause: Lack of formal policies and procedures over current required procurement standards and lack of internal controls and adequate staff training on effective requirements set forth by the Uniform Guidance over procurement. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to document and retain evidence that procurement procedures were followed could result in the need to reimburse Federal funds. Questioned Cost: None Context: The City does not have an effective purchasing manual for city-wide use. The City-provided policy and procedure document establishing purchasing guidelines is for Finance Department use. We noted that this document was last updated on September 7, 2004 and does not contain the language required by the Uniform Guidance. We reviewed the City's current effective conflict of interest code and purchasing policy and procedure document and noted no provisions containing the required language per the Uniform Guidance. Statistical Sampling Validity: Non-statistical sampling was performed in relation to this finding. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: Yes, 2019-014, 2021-006 Recommendation: We recommend the City establish an official written policy for procurement and contracting and Conflict of Interest Code that are in line with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. (MW) (SD) (BP) (NC) -17- The policy should contain components for compliance with and references to Federal requirements, such as language establishing contract files that document significant procurement history; methods of procurement authorized including selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis of contract price; verification that procurements provide full and open competition when required; requirements for cost or price analysis, including for contract modifications; obtaining and reacting to suspension and debarment. The City should strengthen its procurement internal controls based on this official written policy. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City concurs with the recommendation. Corrective Action Plan: The City will continue to address this finding through updating of policies and procedures for City-wide use. Update: in November 2023 the City updated the policies and procedures manual that was accepted by the DOJ in December 2023. Planned Implementation Date: June 30, 2024 Responsible Person: Finance Department