Audit 370288

FY End
2024-12-31
Total Expended
$35.95M
Findings
17
Programs
18
Organization: County of Luzerne, Pennsylvania (PA)
Year: 2024 Accepted: 2025-10-02

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
1159691 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159692 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159693 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159694 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159695 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159696 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159697 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159698 2024-003 Material Weakness Yes J
1159699 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159700 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159701 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159702 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159703 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159704 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159705 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159706 2024-004 Material Weakness Yes L
1159707 2024-005 Material Weakness Yes C

Contacts

Name Title Type
GGZYE9C2M6D5 Mary Roselle Auditee
5708251545 Remi Omisore Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) includes the federal award activity of the County of Luzerne, Pennsylvania (the County) under programs of the federal government for the year ended December 31, 2024. 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 County, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net position/fund balance, or cash flows of the County.

Finding Details

Reference Number: 2024-003 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Community Development Block Grants Assistance Listing Number: 14.218 Award Number: B-19-UC-42-0001, B-20-UC-42-0001, B-21-UC-42-0001, B-22-UC-42-0001, B-23-UC-42-0001, B-24-UW-42-0001 Compliance Requirement: Program Income Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Condition The County did not timely and accurately report program income received which caused the County’s reporting to HUD to be inaccurate. Criteria or specific requirement Compliance: CFR 570.504(a) states that the receipt and expenditure of program income as defined in §570.500(a) shall be recorded as part of the financial transactions of the grant program. Additionally, CFR 570.504(b)(2)(ii)) requires that program income be disbursed for eligible activities before additional funds are drawn from the U.S. Treasury account. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: 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 the Federal award. These internal controls should comply 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). Context Program income reported on Line 05 of the PR 26 report was $787,553, an additional $131,863 was collected in fiscal year 2024 but not reported. Cause Amounts received by the County were not identified timely. Effect The amount reported by the County to HUD related to program income was inaccurate. Questioned Costs Management indicated that $131,863 of collections in fiscal year 2024 was omitted from the PR 26 report. Recommendation We recommend that management identify its collections related to program income in a timely manner, modify its draw request appropriately, and report the accurate amounts to HUD. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions The county will continue to report the correct amount of program income to HUD. Receipts will be entered more timely.
Reference Number: 2024-004 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Community Development Block Grants Assistance Listing Number: 14.218 Award Number: B-19-UC-42-0001, B-20-UC-42-0001, B-21-UC-42-0001, B-22-UC-42-0001, B-23-UC-42-0001, B-24-UW-42-0001 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Condition The County could not report the prime awards within the required timeframes for its first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more. Criteria or specific requirement Compliance: Per the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) And Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 170 Appendix A, prime (direct) recipients of grants or cooperative agreements are required to report first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS). Reports must be filed in FSRS by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any sub-grant greater than or equal to $30,000. If the initial award is below $30,000 but subsequent grant modifications result in a total award equal to or over $30,000, the award will be subject to the reporting requirements as of the date the award exceeds $30,000. If the initial award equals or exceeds $30,000 but funding is subsequently de-obligated such that the total award amount falls below $30,000, the award continues to be subject to FFATA reporting requirements. As of March 8th 2025, FSRS.gov was retired, and all subaward reporting data and functionality are now on SAM.gov. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: 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 the Federal award. These internal controls should comply 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). Context The seven subawards selected for testing were not reported in FSRS or SAM.gov by the end of the month following the month in which the amounts were awarded. SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE Cause The County’s controls were not operating effectively to ensure the reporting was performed in accordance with federal requirements. Effect Subawards were not reported to FSRS or SAM.gov in accordance with FFATA requirements. Questioned Costs None noted. Recommendation We recommend that the County develop internal controls and procedures to ensure that FFATA reporting requirements are met and ensure that all required subawards are reported accurately and timely to FSRS or SAM.gov. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions All of the County’s 2024 grants have been entered into FFATA and our 2025 grants and going forward will be entered when awarded.
Reference Number: 2024-005 Prior Year Finding: No Federal Agency: U.S Department of Justice Federal Program: Congressionally Recommended Awards Assistance Listing Number: 16.753 Award Number: 15PBJA-23-GG-00920-BRND Compliance Requirement: Cash Management Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Material Noncompliance Condition The County received reimbursement for the total grant award amount prior to incurring expenditures. Criteria or specific requirement Compliance: Per 2 CFR section 200.305(b) For recipients and subrecipients other than States, payment methods must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the Federal agency or the pass-through entity and the disbursement of funds by the recipient or subrecipient regardless of whether the payment is made by electronic funds transfer or by other means. Control: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: 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 the Federal award. These internal controls should comply 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). Context The County received $2.5 million on July 1, 2024, for the grant, as of that date the general ledger reported no expenditures. The County incurred expenditures of $274,235 in October, $62,247 in November, and $2,160,518 in December. Cause The County’s controls were not operating effectively to ensure reimbursement request were performed in accordance with federal requirements. Effect The County had to return funding of $1,367,790 in November, which was subsequently drawn in December when expenditures were incurred. Questioned Costs None noted. Recommendation We recommend that the County develop internal controls and procedures to ensure drawdowns are performed in a manner to minimize the time between drawing and disbursing federal funds Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions Fiscal Clerk has been trained on proper drawdown of grant funds and accurate recording of expenditures.