Audit 359596

FY End
2023-12-31
Total Expended
$4.30M
Findings
8
Programs
4
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2025-06-24

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
565951 2023-003 Significant Deficiency Yes E
565952 2023-004 Significant Deficiency Yes L
565953 2023-005 Significant Deficiency - N
565954 2023-006 Significant Deficiency - N
1142393 2023-003 Significant Deficiency Yes E
1142394 2023-004 Significant Deficiency Yes L
1142395 2023-005 Significant Deficiency - N
1142396 2023-006 Significant Deficiency - N

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $3.12M Yes 4
14.872 Public Housing Capital Fund $500,196 - 0
14.850 Public Housing Operating Fund $396,952 - 0
14.879 Mainstream Vouchers $279,119 Yes 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
CLJ6QZYTU5W3 Derek Johnson Auditee
7012823443 Brian Opsahl Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the “Schedule”) are reported on the 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. Negative amounts shown on the Schedule represent adjustments or credits made in the normal course of business to amounts reported as expenditures in prior years. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Housing Authority of Cass County has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The Schedule includes the federal award activity of the Housing Authority of Cass County under programs of the federal government for the year ended December 31, 2023. 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. Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the Authority, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net position, or cash flows of the Authority.

Finding Details

Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria Determine income eligibility and calculate the tenant’s rent payment using the documentation from third party verification in accordance with 24 CFR Part 5 Subpart F (24 CFR section 5.601 et seq.) (24 CFR sections 982.201, 982.515, and 982.516). Additionally, as a condition of admission or continued occupancy, the Authority must require the tenant and other family members to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). Condition We tested compliance with the Authority’s eligibility in 40 tenant files and found that one tenant’s housing assistance payment was calculated incorrectly resulting in an incorrect HAP amount paid. Additionally, we noted one tenant file in which proof of citizenship was not maintained and two tenant files that did not have a signed lease agreement by the required parties. Questioned Costs None. Context We reviewed a sample of 40 of the Authority’s 491 tenant files for eligibility requirements. Effect HAP payments could have been paid to a tenant who was not eligible to receive the payments or tenants may not be provided the proper housing assistance in accordance with their income and eligibility factors. Cause Lack of controls and oversight during the year. Repeat Finding 2022-007 Recommendation We recommend the Authority reviews their procedures of tenant file reviews to ensure all calculations are correct and appropriate documents are included. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria The Uniform Guidance requires all entities that expend in excess of $750,000 to file audited financial statements and a Data Collection Form within 9 months of year-end. Condition The Authority’s December 31, 2023 audited financial statements and associated Data Collection Form were not filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within 9 months of the Authority’s year-end. Questioned Costs None. Context N/A Effect The Authority is not in compliance with Uniform Guidance requirements. Cause The financial statements were not completed within the 9-month window which delayed the submissions to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Repeat Finding See 2022-008. Recommendation We recommend the Authority ensures reconciliations are prepared in a timely manner to allow for an efficient audit process. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria The PHA must inspect the unit leased to a family at least biennially to determine if the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS) (24 CFR section 982.405(b)). Condition We tested compliance with the Authority’s HQS in 40 tenant files and found one instance in which a biennial inspection had not been performed. Questioned Costs None. Context We reviewed a sample of 40 of the Authority’s 491 tenant files for HQS Inspection requirements. Effect HAP payments may be made to a tenant living in a unit that does not meet Housing Quality Standards. Cause Lack of oversight and control procedures. Repeat Finding Not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend the Authority reviews their control procedures over HQS Inspections to ensure that inspections are being performed as required. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria For units under HAP contract that fail to meet HQS, the PHA must require the owner to correct any life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours after the inspections and all other HQS deficiencies within 30 calendar days or within a specified PHA-approved extension. If the owner does not correct the cited HQS deficiencies within the specified correction period, the PHA must stop (abate) HAPs beginning no later than the first of the month following the specified correction period or must terminate the HAP contract (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.404). Condition We tested compliance with the Authority’s HQS Enforcement on 12 failed inspections and noted one failed inspection was not followed-up on and HAP was not abated. During our testing of 40 tenant files, we also noted two instances of failed inspections that were not followed-up on and HAP was not abated. Questioned Costs None. Context We reviewed a sample of 12 of the Authority’s 120 failed inspections during 2023 for HQS Enforcement requirements. Effect HAP payments could be paid to a tenant where they should not be due to insufficient clearing of HQS inspection deficiencies. Cause Lack of oversight and control procedures. Repeat Finding Not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend the Authority review their procedures for tracking failed inspections to ensure that all failed inspections are being followed-up and cleared within the required timeframe. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria Determine income eligibility and calculate the tenant’s rent payment using the documentation from third party verification in accordance with 24 CFR Part 5 Subpart F (24 CFR section 5.601 et seq.) (24 CFR sections 982.201, 982.515, and 982.516). Additionally, as a condition of admission or continued occupancy, the Authority must require the tenant and other family members to provide necessary information, documentation, and releases for the PHA to verify income eligibility (24 CFR sections 5.230, 5.609, and 982.516). Condition We tested compliance with the Authority’s eligibility in 40 tenant files and found that one tenant’s housing assistance payment was calculated incorrectly resulting in an incorrect HAP amount paid. Additionally, we noted one tenant file in which proof of citizenship was not maintained and two tenant files that did not have a signed lease agreement by the required parties. Questioned Costs None. Context We reviewed a sample of 40 of the Authority’s 491 tenant files for eligibility requirements. Effect HAP payments could have been paid to a tenant who was not eligible to receive the payments or tenants may not be provided the proper housing assistance in accordance with their income and eligibility factors. Cause Lack of controls and oversight during the year. Repeat Finding 2022-007 Recommendation We recommend the Authority reviews their procedures of tenant file reviews to ensure all calculations are correct and appropriate documents are included. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria The Uniform Guidance requires all entities that expend in excess of $750,000 to file audited financial statements and a Data Collection Form within 9 months of year-end. Condition The Authority’s December 31, 2023 audited financial statements and associated Data Collection Form were not filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within 9 months of the Authority’s year-end. Questioned Costs None. Context N/A Effect The Authority is not in compliance with Uniform Guidance requirements. Cause The financial statements were not completed within the 9-month window which delayed the submissions to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Repeat Finding See 2022-008. Recommendation We recommend the Authority ensures reconciliations are prepared in a timely manner to allow for an efficient audit process. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria The PHA must inspect the unit leased to a family at least biennially to determine if the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS) (24 CFR section 982.405(b)). Condition We tested compliance with the Authority’s HQS in 40 tenant files and found one instance in which a biennial inspection had not been performed. Questioned Costs None. Context We reviewed a sample of 40 of the Authority’s 491 tenant files for HQS Inspection requirements. Effect HAP payments may be made to a tenant living in a unit that does not meet Housing Quality Standards. Cause Lack of oversight and control procedures. Repeat Finding Not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend the Authority reviews their control procedures over HQS Inspections to ensure that inspections are being performed as required. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 – Significant Deficiency. Criteria For units under HAP contract that fail to meet HQS, the PHA must require the owner to correct any life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours after the inspections and all other HQS deficiencies within 30 calendar days or within a specified PHA-approved extension. If the owner does not correct the cited HQS deficiencies within the specified correction period, the PHA must stop (abate) HAPs beginning no later than the first of the month following the specified correction period or must terminate the HAP contract (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.404). Condition We tested compliance with the Authority’s HQS Enforcement on 12 failed inspections and noted one failed inspection was not followed-up on and HAP was not abated. During our testing of 40 tenant files, we also noted two instances of failed inspections that were not followed-up on and HAP was not abated. Questioned Costs None. Context We reviewed a sample of 12 of the Authority’s 120 failed inspections during 2023 for HQS Enforcement requirements. Effect HAP payments could be paid to a tenant where they should not be due to insufficient clearing of HQS inspection deficiencies. Cause Lack of oversight and control procedures. Repeat Finding Not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend the Authority review their procedures for tracking failed inspections to ensure that all failed inspections are being followed-up and cleared within the required timeframe. Views of Responsible Officials Management recognizes the deficiency and plans to implement the auditor’s recommendation.