Audit 389420

FY End
2024-06-30
Total Expended
$6.80M
Findings
4
Programs
12
Organization: Municipality of Lajas (PR)
Year: 2024 Accepted: 2026-02-26

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Contacts

Name Title Type
LUCCNRKL6VD5 Ramona Pacheco Machado Auditee
7878991450 Velvette Barnes Pico Auditor
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Notes to SEFA

The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards includes the federal grant activity of the Municipality under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 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). Therefore, some amounts presented in this schedule may differ from the amounts presented in, or used in the preparation of, the basic financial statements. Because the schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the Municipality, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position and changes in net position of the Municipality.
Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the modified 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.
The Municipality did not elect to use the ten (10) percent of the minimum indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.
The expenditures of the schedule are included in the Municipality’s basic financial statements. The reconciliation of expenditures in the basic financial statements to the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is as follows: ExpendituresTotal federal expenditures per schedule6,799,007$ Federal expenditures per basic financial statements included within:General Fund1,479$ ARPA Fund2,677,155 Hurricane Maria Fund1,528,197 Other Governmental Funds2,592,177 Total6,799,007$
As reported in Note 15 to the financial statements, the Municipality had an outstanding federal loan balance as of June 30, 2024. FEMA awarded the Municipality a Community Disaster Loan (CDL) with a maximum limit amount of $5 million at 2.75%. The CDL program provide assistance to local governments to overcome a loss in revenues as a result of a natural disaster, and in order to provide funds to continue its governmental operational functions. Neither principal nor interest payments are required to be paid until the CDL maturity. The terms of the CDL provide, as a condition, that the Municipality shall recover sufficient revenues to meet its operating budget after three full years next to the fiscal year in which the natural disaster occurred. In the case in which the Municipality does not recover sufficient revenues, the repayment of the whole or part of the CDL might be cancelled by the Federal Government. In June 2018 and June 2021, FEMA issued to the Municipality a promissory note of $3,090,052 and $2,613,301 respectively for financial assistance under the CDL. DescriptionAmountOutstanding note balance, at beginning year490,371$ Notes advances received during fiscal year 2023-2024- Community disaster loan forgiveness- Total outstanding note balance, June 30, 2024490,371$ Current year loan expense1,479$

Finding Details

SECTION III – FEDERAL AWARDS FINDING AND QUESTIONED COSTS FINDING NUMBER 2024-002 REQUIREMENT REPORTING TYPE OF FINDING MATERIAL WEAKNESS CONDITION The Single Audit Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, of the Municipality with due date of March 31, 2025 was submitted after the 9 months deadline. The Single Audit related to such a period was completed after 9-month deadline. CRITERIA Public Law 104-156, known as the Single Audit Act, section 7502 (h) (1) and (2)(B) establish that the non-Federal Organization shall transmit the reporting package, which shall include the non-Federal Organization’s financial statements, schedule of expenditures of Federal awards, corrective action plan defined under subsection (i), and auditor’s reports developed pursuant to this section, to a Federal clearinghouse designated by the Director, and make it available for public inspection within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of the auditor’s report; or 9 months after the end of the period audited, or within a longer timeframe authorized by the Federal agency, determined under criteria issued under section 7504, when the 9-month timeframe would place an undue burden on the non-Federal Organization. EFFECT Non-compliance with the above-mentioned requirement could lead to administrative actions by the grantor. It could also be interpreted as a failure to manage federal awards in compliance with laws, regulations, and provisions of contracts and grant agreements. QUESTIONED COST None RECOMMENDATION The municipality shall establish controls and procedures to enable compliance with completion and submission of the Single Audit Report to the Federal Clearinghouse before the 9-month deadline. Finding represents a significant problem. The municipality will accelerate the process to contract auditors to carry out the audit and submit the report on time. PRIOR YEAR FINDING This finding is a prior year finding identified as 2023-002. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE The Municipality has taken all necessary administrative measures toOFFICIALS AND PLANNED ensure compliance with the requirement to complete and submit the CORRECTIVE ACTION Single Audit Act. The Municipality has established a formal audit compliance calendar with interim milestones covering audit procurement/engagement, planning, fieldwork, issuance of draft reports, management review, and submission to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. The Municipality has accelerated the procurement process to contract auditors earlier in the fiscal year and will include clear deliverables, target dates, and communication expectations in the audit engagement agreement. The Finance Department has prepared and maintains a standardized prepared-by-client (PBC) package to ensure that all required schedules and supporting documentation (including financial statement support, trial balances, and federal awards documentation such as the SEFA) are provided to auditors in a timely manner. Periodic status meetings have been held with responsible personnel and external auditors to monitor progress, promptly identify delays, and implement corrective measures to ensure the reporting package is submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse before the 9-month deadline. Responsible Officials Finance Director / Federal Programs Coordinator/ Procurement Officer Estimated Completion Date June 30, 2026