Audit 398704

FY End
2025-09-30
Total Expended
$6.69M
Findings
2
Programs
3
Organization: Gulf Coast Transit District (TX)
Year: 2025 Accepted: 2026-04-14
Auditor: WHITLEY PENN LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
1206626 2025-001 Material Weakness Yes I
1206627 2025-001 Material Weakness Yes I

Contacts

Name Title Type
RQMDJ55MTQM3 Theodore Ross Auditee
4093597887 Patrick Simmons Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

The District incurred expenditures totaling $1,500,170, which are recognized as expenditures in the prior year financial statements. Most of the expenditures totaling $1,405,482 is for the reimbursement of transit administration, operations, maintenance, and planning expenditures and Lake Jackson Maintenance and Operations Facility construction expenditures paid by Gulf Coast Center during the transition period. Additionally, another $94,688 was incurred and payable to a vendor for oversight activities of the Lake Jackson Maintenance and Operations Facility construction. Due to deobligation of the transit grants by Gulf Coast Center, the Center was not able to seek reimbursement for these expenditures from grantors and now the District is responsible for payment of the expenditures. The District is developing repayment plans and evaluating funding sources to reimburse Gulf Coast Center and pay the District's vendor, which may include a combination of federal/state grants and local monies. These expenditures are not recognized on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal and State Awards in the current fiscal year but may be in future years.
State awards are subject to the State of Texas Single Audit Circular. Such guidelines are consistent with those required under the Single Audit Act of 1996, the Uniform Guidance, and Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States.

Finding Details

Finding Number: 2025-001 Repeat Finding: Yes; 2024-002, 2023-002, 2022-002, 2021-002 Federal Program Name/Assistance Listing Title: Federal Transit Cluster Federal Assistance Listing Number: 20.507, 20.526 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Award Number: 5339-R-2024-GCTD-00025 Federal Pass-Through Agency: Texas Department of Transportation State Program Name: Urban State Program State Agency: Texas Department of Transportation Type of Finding: Noncompliance Material to Financial Statements and Federal/State Major Programs, Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Compliance Requirement: Procurement, Suspension and Debarment Questioned Costs: $368,203 Criteria Non-federal entities other than states, including those operating federal programs as subrecipients of states, must follow the procurement standards set out at 2 CFR §§200.318 through 200.326. They must use their own documented procurement procedures, which reflect applicable State and local laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable federal statutes and the procurement requirements identified in 2 CFR part 200. Condition The District was unable to provide evidence that the federal guidelines were followed for purchases exceeding the small purchases and simplified acquisition threshold. Cause The District’s internal controls over procurement of goods and services were not adequate. Effect The District was not in compliance with Federal regulations and guidelines related to procurement of goods and services. Context During our testing of procurement compliance, we selected all vendors with expenditures exceeding the federal Simplified Acquisition Threshold for the fiscal year. The population consisted of one (1) vendor with total FY 2025 expenditures of $368,203. The District was unable to provide any documentation supporting the procurement method, competitive solicitation, or suspension and debarment verification for this vendor. Because the District could not produce a procurement file or alternative evidence demonstrating compliance with 2 CFR 200.318–200.326, the entire amount paid to this vendor was considered questioned costs. Recommendation The District should maintain documentation of procurement actions in the vendor file including sealed procurements issued and quotes. Review of procurement compliance should occur before the District’s funds are obligated. Views of Responsible Officials The District agrees with the finding and has taken steps to address this issue as detailed in the Corrective Action Plan.