FINDING 2024-003 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): 2024 Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/ Cost Principles, Period of Performance Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context As part of sound management of the federal award, the City was responsible for implementing a system of internal controls that would ensure compliance with the applicable requirements. The City had not properly designed or implemented such a system, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. Prior to the receipt of direct COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), 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 City 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. The SLFRF program provides substantial flexibility for each recipient to meet local needs within four 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; • Provide government services, to the extent COVID-19 caused a reduction in revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the recipient; and • Make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. The City elected to receive the standard revenue loss allowance, allowing it to claim its total SLFRF allocation of $3,821,386 as revenue loss to use for government services. The allocated funds may only be used to cover costs incurred from the period beginning on March 3, 2021, and ending on December 31, 2024. Obligations for costs incurred are required to be liquidated no later than December 31, 2026. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 CITY OF VINCENNES SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) During the audit period, the City completed one transfer of SLFRF funds from the Coronavirus State and Local Fi fund to the Grant Stipends fund in the amount of $30,000. The transfer was described as a reimbursement for stipends paid to essential workers. There was no documentation provided for audit to determine if the transfer was for allowable activities, met the cost objectives of the award, or that the associated expenditures were within the period of performance. The Grant Stipends fund was established in 2022, with total expenditures from the fund from 2022, 2023, and 2024 of only $28,009. Additionally, the transfer of SLFRF funds was commingled with other receipts into the Grant Stipends fund. Because the $30,000 transfer of SLFRF funds exceeded the total disbursements out of the Grant Stipends fund and because the City did not have an appropriate system in place to account for the federal expenditures separately from other grant and operating expenditures, we were unable to determine what, if any, expenditures from the Grant Stipends fund should be included in the population of federal expenditures under the award. Without a complete population of expenditures, we were unable to determine the City's compliance with the Activities Allowed or Unallowed, the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, and the Period of Performance compliance requirements. As such, the $30,000 transferred from the Coronavirus State and Local Fi fund is considered questioned costs. The City also did not have written procedures for determining the allowability of costs in accordance with subpart E of 2 CFR 200. The lack of effective internal controls and noncompliance were isolated to the situations described above. 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). . . ." 2 CFR 200.300(b) states in part: "The non-Federal entity is responsible for complying with all requirements of the Federal award. . . ." 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 program-specific 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. . . . INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 CITY OF VINCENNES SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (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. . . . (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. . . . (7) Written procedures for determining the allowability of costs in accordance with subpart E of this part and the terms and conditions of the Federal award." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. . . . (g) be adequately documented. . . ." Cause A proper system of internal controls over the SLFRF expenditures was not designed by management of the City to ensure the SLFRF funds were being used appropriately. The City did not have policies and procedures in place to ensure that expenditures of federal awards were allowable and occurred within the period of performance. The City initiated a transfer of SLFRF funds from the grant fund to another fund without proper supporting documentation. The City was unable to differentiate expenditures made from federal and nonfederal funds within its ledger for the Grant Stipends fund. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, a population of expenditures associated with the Grant Stipends fund could not be determined. As such, the City cannot ensure nor can we determine that expenditures of the grant were not unallowable, within the proper period, and adhered to established practices and policies. As a result, noncompliance in the form of questioned costs occurred and remained undetected. 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 City. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 CITY OF VINCENNES SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Questioned Costs Questioned costs in the amount of $30,000 were identified as noted in the Condition and Context. Recommendation We recommended the City's management establish a proper system of internal controls and develop policies and procedures to ensure that expenditures of federal awards are allowable and occur within the period of performance. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-004 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): 2024 Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context As part of sound management of the federal award, the City was responsible for implementing a system of internal controls that would ensure compliance with the applicable requirements. The City had not properly designed or implemented such a system, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. Prior to entering into subawards or covered transactions with the COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), recipients are required to verify that vendors or subrecipients are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from receiving federal funds. "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 can be done by checking the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), collecting a certification from that person, or adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person. Seven covered transactions exceeding $25,000 for goods or services that were paid using SLFRF funds were identified during the audit period, two of which were selected for testing. The City did not verify the vendor's suspension and debarment status prior to entering into the covered transaction with either vendor. The amount paid to both vendors totaled $1,530,911. 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: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 CITY OF VINCENNES SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (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: (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 The City officials were unaware of the compliance requirements and, therefore, did not verify the suspension and debarment status of the vendors in question. Effect Without a proper system of internal controls in place that operated effectively, the City entered into covered transactions without verifying that the vendors were not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from receiving federal funds. As a result, material noncompliance occurred and remained undetected. Any program funds the City used to pay vendors that have been suspended or debarred would be unallowable, and the funding agency could potentially recover them. Noncompliance with the provisions of federal statues, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of future federal funding to the City. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the City's management establish a proper system of internal controls and to retain documentation of the verification of a vendor's suspension and debarment status. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.
FINDING 2024-005 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): 2024 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context As part of sound management of the federal award, the City was responsible for implementing a system of internal controls that would ensure compliance with the applicable requirements. The City had not properly designed or implemented such a system, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. Recipients are required to submit an initial interim report and 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 City was classified as a city with a population below 250,000 residents that was allocated less than $10 million in COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). As such, an annual P&E report, covering one calendar year from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, was prepared and submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer to the Treasury by April 30, 2024. The P&E report data to be submitted included, but was not limited to, current period and total cumulative obligations and current period and total cumulative expenditures. We were unable to trace the annual P&E report to the City's records. The errors identified were as follows: Total cumulative obligations were overstated by $1,732,149. Current period obligations were understated by $2,089,238. Current period expenditures and total cumulative expenditures were both overstated by $38,398. In addition, the P&E report required obligations and expenditures to be reported by project. The City completed the report utilizing total amounts for all projects. There were 11 projects appropriated using the SLFRF award. 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: INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 23 CITY OF VINCENNES SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) (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). . . ." 2 CFR 200.302(b) states in part: "The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following: . . . (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. . . ." 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, . . ." Compliance and Reporting Guidance, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, page 13, 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 compiling and reporting accurate, compliant financial data, in accordance with appropriate accounting standards and principles. . . ." Cause The City officials appropriated the entire SLFRF award in May 2022 and reported the entire award amount as obligated in the P&E reports completed in 2023 and 2024. City officials were not aware that appropriating the funds alone does not constitute obligations of the award. Additionally, correcting adjustments made after the report was submitted partially contributed to the differences noted in expenditures. City officials were also not aware that obligations and expenditures could not be reported in total but should be reported by project. Effect Without a proper system of internal controls in place that operated effectively, the City did not file an accurate annual P&E report as required under the federal award. As such, the City did not accurately report current period obligations, cumulative obligations, current period expenditures, and cumulative expenditures when filing the P&E report for the period April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. As a result, material noncompliance occurred and remained undetected. 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 City. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 24 CITY OF VINCENNES SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the City's management establish a proper system of internal controls and develop and implement reporting policies and procedures to ensure that all required reports are complete and accurate when submitted. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.