Audit 322658

FY End
2023-12-31
Total Expended
$1.45M
Findings
6
Programs
2
Organization: Town of Upland (IN)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-09-30

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
499793 2023-003 Material Weakness - ABH
499794 2023-004 Material Weakness - I
499795 2023-005 Material Weakness - L
1076235 2023-003 Material Weakness - ABH
1076236 2023-004 Material Weakness - I
1076237 2023-005 Material Weakness - L

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $831,817 Yes 0
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $767 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
UD1SWGSWCA64 Mary Fletcher Auditee
7659987439 Beth Kelley, Cpa, Cfe Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Note 3. COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Accounting Policies: Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies A. Basis of Presentation The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) includes the federal grant activity of the Town under programs of the federal government for the year ended December 31, 2023. The information in the SEFA 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 SEFA presents only a select portion of the operations of the Town, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position of the Town. B. Other Significant Accounting Policies Expenditures reported on the SEFA are reported on the cash basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following, as applicable, either the cost principles in OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments, or the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowed or are limited as to reimbursement. When federal grants are received on a reimbursement basis, the federal awards are considered expended when the reimbursement is received. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Note 2. Indirect Cost Rate The Town has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The Town was awarded a State Water Infrastructure and Transportation & Storm Water Grant Programs (SWIF/TNSW) grant from the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA). The funding source for the SWIF/TNSW grant awards is the COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). As the IFA maintained custody of the grant funds and disbursed them on the Town’s behalf some of the activity for the SLFRF grant that is presented on the SEFA is not presented as receipts and disbursements in the financial statement of the Town.

Finding Details

FINDING 2023-003 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Period of Performance Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Period of Performance Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Prior to receipt of direct COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) award funds, all eligible entities were required to execute a Financial Assistance Agreement (Agreement) which included the Award Terms and Conditions that recipients must comply with in carrying out the objectives of their award. Per the Agreement, the Town was responsible for the effective administration of the federal award as well as the application of sound management practices and administration of federal funds in a manner consistent with program objectives and terms and conditions of the award. Recipients may use SLFRF funds for any eligible expenses subject to the restrictions set forth in sections 602 and 603 of the Social Security Act as added by section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The SLFRF program provides substantial flexibility for each recipient to meet local needs within seven separate eligible use categories. Recipients may use SLFRF funds to:  Respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts;  Respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers of eligible employers that have eligible workers who are performing essential work; INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued)  Provide government services, to the extent COVID-19 caused a reduction in revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the recipient;  Make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.  Provide emergency relief from natural disasters or their negative economic impacts.  Fund eligible Surface Transportation projects; and  Fund Title I projects that are eligible activities under the Community Development Block Grant and Indiana Community Development Block Grant programs. As part of sound management of the federal award, the Town was responsible for implementing a system of internal controls that would ensure compliance with the applicable requirements. The Town had not properly designed or implemented such a system. There was no evidence of segregation of duties, such as an oversight, review, or approval process, that would have ensured that expenditures of award funds were made only for activities and costs that were allowable under the federal award and federal regulations and that were within the period of performance. The Town completed five transfers totaling $224,050 to the Town Utility funds. The amounts transferred to these Utility funds were commingled with other receipts; therefore, the expenditures that went with the SLFRF money, if any, could not be identified. Therefore, the $224,050 could not be tested to ensure compliance with the Activities Allowed or Unallowed, the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, and the Period of Performance compliance requirements. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the transfers noted above. Criteria 2 CFR 200.302 states in part: "(a) Each state must expend and account for the Federal award in accordance with state laws and procedures for expending and accounting for the state's own funds. In addition, the state's and the other non-Federal entity's financial management systems, including records documenting compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award, must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and programspecific terms and conditions; and the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. . . . (b) The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (1) Identification, in its accounts, of all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received. Federal program and Federal award identification must include, as applicable, the Assistance Listings title and number, Federal award identification number and year, name of the Federal agency, and name of the pass-through entity, if any. (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328 and 200.329. . . . INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federallyfunded activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, financial obligations, unobligated balances, assets, expenditures, income and interest and be supported by source documentation. (4) Effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets. . . ." 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the Town. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the Town's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. Due to the lack of internal controls, the Town was unable to differentiate expenditures made from federal and nonfederal funds once it commingled nonfederal funds and federal grant awards. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system was not effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance within the grant. The Town was unable to identify all the expenditures paid with federal funds and cannot ensure, nor can we determine, expenditures of the grant were allowable activity, within the proper period, and were an allowable cost. Questioned Costs We identified $224,050 in known questioned costs as noted above in the Condition and Context. Recommendation We recommended that management of the Town establish a system of internal controls to ensure that grant award funds are accounted for and tracked in a designated grant fund. All activity of the grant should be in this fund with supporting documentation for each transaction. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking SAM.gov, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Due to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the Town was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. The Town did not have a formal written policy covering the suspension and debarment requirements. The population of covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from SLFRF funds during the audit period were identified. All vendors with covered transactions were selected for testing. Evidence was not provided that the Town verified the vendors' suspension and debarment status prior to entering into the covered transactions. The Town did not provide a formal policy or have procedures in place to verify that contractors engaged in covered transactions are neither suspended nor debarred or otherwise excluded or disqualified from participating in federal assistance programs or activities. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was systemic throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 31 CFR 19.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (a) Checking the EPLS; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person if allowed by this rule; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the Town. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the Town's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. At the time the Town entered into the contracts tested, the Town was unaware of the requirements for verifying whether or not vendors were suspended or debarred. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, the suspension and debarment status of vendors paid $25,000 or more was not verified. Payments to vendors that are suspended or debarred would be unallowable and could be recovered by the awarding agency. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the Town. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the Town establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context Recipients are required to quarterly or annually submit Project and Expenditure (P&E) reports to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury). The reporting periods, as well as the respective due dates, are based upon type of recipient and its population, as well as the recipient's allocation amount. Information to be reported includes projects funded, expenditures, and contracts for the appropriate reporting period. The Town was classified as a town with a population below 250,000 residents that received an allocation of less than $10 million in COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). As such, the initial P&E report, covering the period from March 3, 2022 to March 31, 2023, was required to be submitted to the Treasury by April 30, 2023. The subsequent annual reports are to cover one calendar year and must be submitted to the Treasury by April 30 each year. The Town submitted one P&E report during the audit period; however, the report was submitted without a review or oversight process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Compliance and Reporting Guidance, page 10, states in part: ". . . 10. Reporting. All recipients of federal funds must complete financial, performance, and compliance reporting as required and outlined in Part 2 of this guidance. Expenditures may be reported on a cash or accrual basis, as long as the methodology is disclosed and consistently applied. Reporting must be consistent with the definition of expenditures pursuant to 2 CFR 200.1. Your organization should appropriately maintain accounting records for com-piling and reporting accurate, compliant financial data, in accordance with appropriate accounting standards and principles. . . ." 31 CFR 35.4(c) states in part: "Reporting and requests for other information. During the period of performance, recipients shall provide to the Secretary periodic reports providing detailed accounting of the uses of funds, . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the Town. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the Town's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 22 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the Town strengthen its system of internal controls to provide for segregation of duties in the preparation and review of federal reports to ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-003 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Period of Performance Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Period of Performance Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Prior to receipt of direct COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) award funds, all eligible entities were required to execute a Financial Assistance Agreement (Agreement) which included the Award Terms and Conditions that recipients must comply with in carrying out the objectives of their award. Per the Agreement, the Town was responsible for the effective administration of the federal award as well as the application of sound management practices and administration of federal funds in a manner consistent with program objectives and terms and conditions of the award. Recipients may use SLFRF funds for any eligible expenses subject to the restrictions set forth in sections 602 and 603 of the Social Security Act as added by section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The SLFRF program provides substantial flexibility for each recipient to meet local needs within seven separate eligible use categories. Recipients may use SLFRF funds to:  Respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts;  Respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers of eligible employers that have eligible workers who are performing essential work; INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 17 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued)  Provide government services, to the extent COVID-19 caused a reduction in revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the recipient;  Make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.  Provide emergency relief from natural disasters or their negative economic impacts.  Fund eligible Surface Transportation projects; and  Fund Title I projects that are eligible activities under the Community Development Block Grant and Indiana Community Development Block Grant programs. As part of sound management of the federal award, the Town was responsible for implementing a system of internal controls that would ensure compliance with the applicable requirements. The Town had not properly designed or implemented such a system. There was no evidence of segregation of duties, such as an oversight, review, or approval process, that would have ensured that expenditures of award funds were made only for activities and costs that were allowable under the federal award and federal regulations and that were within the period of performance. The Town completed five transfers totaling $224,050 to the Town Utility funds. The amounts transferred to these Utility funds were commingled with other receipts; therefore, the expenditures that went with the SLFRF money, if any, could not be identified. Therefore, the $224,050 could not be tested to ensure compliance with the Activities Allowed or Unallowed, the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, and the Period of Performance compliance requirements. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the transfers noted above. Criteria 2 CFR 200.302 states in part: "(a) Each state must expend and account for the Federal award in accordance with state laws and procedures for expending and accounting for the state's own funds. In addition, the state's and the other non-Federal entity's financial management systems, including records documenting compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award, must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and programspecific terms and conditions; and the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. . . . (b) The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following . . . (1) Identification, in its accounts, of all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received. Federal program and Federal award identification must include, as applicable, the Assistance Listings title and number, Federal award identification number and year, name of the Federal agency, and name of the pass-through entity, if any. (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §§ 200.328 and 200.329. . . . INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federallyfunded activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, financial obligations, unobligated balances, assets, expenditures, income and interest and be supported by source documentation. (4) Effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets. . . ." 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the Town. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the Town's management statements of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. Due to the lack of internal controls, the Town was unable to differentiate expenditures made from federal and nonfederal funds once it commingled nonfederal funds and federal grant awards. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system was not effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance within the grant. The Town was unable to identify all the expenditures paid with federal funds and cannot ensure, nor can we determine, expenditures of the grant were allowable activity, within the proper period, and were an allowable cost. Questioned Costs We identified $224,050 in known questioned costs as noted above in the Condition and Context. Recommendation We recommended that management of the Town establish a system of internal controls to ensure that grant award funds are accounted for and tracked in a designated grant fund. All activity of the grant should be in this fund with supporting documentation for each transaction. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context Prior to entering into subawards and covered transactions with COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), recipients are required to verify that such contractors and subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded. "Covered transactions" include, but are not limited to, contracts for goods and services awarded under a nonprocurement transaction (i.e., grant agreement) that are expected to equal or exceed $25,000. The verification is to be done by checking SAM.gov, collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Due to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's determination that the revenue loss eligible use category does not give rise to subawards, the Town was only required to comply with suspension and debarment requirements related to covered transactions. The Town did not have a formal written policy covering the suspension and debarment requirements. The population of covered transactions for goods or services that equaled or exceeded $25,000 paid from SLFRF funds during the audit period were identified. All vendors with covered transactions were selected for testing. Evidence was not provided that the Town verified the vendors' suspension and debarment status prior to entering into the covered transactions. The Town did not provide a formal policy or have procedures in place to verify that contractors engaged in covered transactions are neither suspended nor debarred or otherwise excluded or disqualified from participating in federal assistance programs or activities. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance was systemic throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 31 CFR 19.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (a) Checking the EPLS; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person if allowed by this rule; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the Town. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the Town's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. At the time the Town entered into the contracts tested, the Town was unaware of the requirements for verifying whether or not vendors were suspended or debarred. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. As a result, the suspension and debarment status of vendors paid $25,000 or more was not verified. Payments to vendors that are suspended or debarred would be unallowable and could be recovered by the awarding agency. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the Town. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the Town establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure contractors and subrecipients, as appropriate, are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into any contracts or subawards. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2023-005 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Condition and Context Recipients are required to quarterly or annually submit Project and Expenditure (P&E) reports to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury). The reporting periods, as well as the respective due dates, are based upon type of recipient and its population, as well as the recipient's allocation amount. Information to be reported includes projects funded, expenditures, and contracts for the appropriate reporting period. The Town was classified as a town with a population below 250,000 residents that received an allocation of less than $10 million in COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). As such, the initial P&E report, covering the period from March 3, 2022 to March 31, 2023, was required to be submitted to the Treasury by April 30, 2023. The subsequent annual reports are to cover one calendar year and must be submitted to the Treasury by April 30 each year. The Town submitted one P&E report during the audit period; however, the report was submitted without a review or oversight process in place to prevent, or detect and correct, errors. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Compliance and Reporting Guidance, page 10, states in part: ". . . 10. Reporting. All recipients of federal funds must complete financial, performance, and compliance reporting as required and outlined in Part 2 of this guidance. Expenditures may be reported on a cash or accrual basis, as long as the methodology is disclosed and consistently applied. Reporting must be consistent with the definition of expenditures pursuant to 2 CFR 200.1. Your organization should appropriately maintain accounting records for com-piling and reporting accurate, compliant financial data, in accordance with appropriate accounting standards and principles. . . ." 31 CFR 35.4(c) states in part: "Reporting and requests for other information. During the period of performance, recipients shall provide to the Secretary periodic reports providing detailed accounting of the uses of funds, . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls was not designed by management of the Town. Embedded within a properly designed and implemented internal control system should be internal controls consisting of policies and procedures. Policies reflect the Town's management of what should be done to effect internal controls, and procedures should consist of actions that would implement these policies. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 22 TOWN OF UPLAND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, including policies and procedures that provide segregation of duties and additional oversight as needed, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, material noncompliance. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the Town strengthen its system of internal controls to provide for segregation of duties in the preparation and review of federal reports to ensure appropriate reviews, approvals, and oversight are taking place. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.