Audit 372875

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: Project-Based Rental Assistance Assistance Listing Number: 14.195 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 121EH007 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Award Period: April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025 Compliance Requirement Affected: Eligibility Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: According to §200.303 Internal Controls of 2 CFR Part 200, the 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 of the Federal award. Condition: Income thresholds, on HUD-50059 tenant recertification forms, were not properly updated to the applicable period, using available income limits published by HUD for the County of Santa Cruz. Questioned costs: None noted. Context: A nonstatistical sample of 12 out of 100 tenant files were selected for testing for the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program. The discrepancy, in the maximum income limit, was identified during the auditor's testing of tenant eligibility to participate in the affordable housing program. Cause: Management oversight on properly updating the income limit thresholds. Effect: Noncompliance results in possible exclusion of eligible applicants as the income limits increased from the income limits used. Repeat Finding: Yes Recommendation: We recommend that the organization review the changes in income limits published by HUD during the tenant certification and recertification process in order to properly update income limits accordingly on form HUD-50059. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: Project-Based Rental Assistance Assistance Listing Number: 14.195 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 121EH007 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Award Period: April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025 Compliance Requirement Affected: Eligibility Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or speciic requirement: According to §200.303 Internal Controls of 2 CFR Part 200, the 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 of the Federal award. Condition: Initial certification and/or recertification HUD-50059 tenant eligibility forms lacked proper review by a management agent or an acting management agent. Questioned costs: None noted. Context: A nonstatistical sample of 12 out of 100 tenant files were selected for testing for the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program. The lack of proper review of tenant certification and/or tenant recertification forms was identified during the auditor's testing of tenant eligibility. Cause: Lack of a management agent or acting management agent in place at the time of tenant certification or recertification. Effect: Noncompliance results in the potential for mathematical errors in accuracy of calculation of tenant rent portion or identification of proper income limit thresholds. Repeat Finding: Yes Recommendation: We recommend that the organization have a process in place for secondary review, of the HUD-50059 certification and recertification forms, by either a management agent or an acting management agent, in the absence of a management agent to check for mathematical accuracy of tenant rent calculation and for use of proper income thresholds. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: Project-Based Rental Assistance Assistance Listing Number: 14.195 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 121EH007 Pass-Through Agency: N/A Award Period: April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025 Compliance Requirement Affected: Cash Management Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: According to §200.303 Internal Controls of 2 CFR Part 200, the 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 of the Federal award. Condition: HUD Housing Assistance Payment forms lacked proper review by a management agent or an acting management agent. Questioned costs: None noted. Context: A nonstatistical sample of 3 out of 12 HUD Housing Assistance Payment forms were selected for testing for the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program. The lack of proper review of HUD Housing Assistance Payment forms was identified during the auditor's testing of cash management. Cause: Lack of a management agent or acting management agent in place at the time of preparing HUD Housing Assistance Payment forms. Effect: Noncompliance results in the potential for mathematical errors in accuracy of calculation of request for payment on the HUD Housing Assistance Payment forms. Repeat Finding: Yes Recommendation: We recommend that the organization have a process in place for secondary review, of the HUD Housing Assistance Payment forms, by either a management agent or an acting management agent, in the absence of a management agent to check for mathematical accuracy of housing assistance payment request. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.