Audit 400610

Reference Number 2025-006 – Delays in Financial Reporting Evaluation of Finding Material Weakness and Noncompliance Criteria Management is responsible for providing timely and accurate financial information. Because the City has expended over $750,000 in federal awards, Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), requires non-federal entities to submit their financial statements and single audit reports to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor's report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period. Condition The City did not submit its financial statements and single audit reports to the FAC within the required timeframe for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The financial statements and single audit reports were submitted after the deadline of March 31, 2026. Cause of Condition The City has experienced turnover in key personnel in the City’s finance department in the past year. Absent robust accounting policies and procedures, when vacancies occur, information can be lost and as individuals are getting up to speed, some processes may not be fully executed if they are manual and not fully embedded into an automated system. This turnover has resulted in delayed audit completion. Effect or Potential Effect of Condition The late submission of the financial statements and single audit reports impairs the ability of the federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities to monitor the City’s compliance with federal requirements and to make informed decisions regarding the continuation or modification of federal awards. The late submission also results in noncompliance with the Uniform Guidance, and increases the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse of federal funds. Context The City’s financial statements and single audit reports are used by the federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities to assess the non-federal entity's financial condition, internal controls, and compliance with federal requirements. Before the 2024 fiscal year, the City regularly presented the Single Audit Reporting Package on time as mandated. Repeat Finding Yes. Recommendation The Finance Department should look at increasing the amount of experienced finance staff to help facilitate year-end closing procedures and the preparation of its basic financial statements. Because the basic financial statements are the responsibility of the City, it is in its best interest to closely monitor the accounting process to ensure that financial position and operating results are accurately and timely reported.

Reference Number 2025-004 Evaluation of Finding Material Weakness and Noncompliance: Incomplete Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Condition The City failed to provide a complete schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) for the fiscal year, leading to inaccuracies pertaining to the ARPA program. This omission resulted in a direct impact on the determination of major programs. Criteria According to the Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) and the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F—Audit Requirements, sections 200.508 and 200.510, entities receiving federal awards must prepare and submit a complete and accurate SEFA as part of their annual financial reporting. This schedule is crucial for auditors to determine major programs and conduct the necessary audits in compliance with federal regulations. Cause of Condition The incomplete SEFA was caused by a lack of oversight and insufficient internal controls within the City's financial management department. Effect or Potential Effect The failure to provide a complete SEFA has significant implications, including: • Inaccurate determination of major programs, which can affect the scope and quality of the audit process. • Increased risk of non-compliance with federal regulations, potentially leading to financial penalties and loss of federal funding. Recommendation To address this material weakness, the following actions are recommended: • Develop detailed procedures and timelines: Establish and enforce comprehensive procedures and timelines for the preparation and submission of the SEFA to ensure completeness and accuracy. • Enhance staffing and resources: Allocate adequate staffing and resources to the financial management department to support the accurate compilation and timely submission of the SEFA. • Provide comprehensive training: Offer training to financial management staff on the requirements and importance of the SEFA, including techniques for ensuring its accuracy and completeness.. • Regularly audit the SEFA preparation process: Conduct regular audits of the SEFA preparation process to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures and address any deficiencies promptly. This should be completed monthly and at a minimum quarterly. By implementing these recommendations, the City can strengthen its internal controls, improve the accuracy of its financial reporting, and ensure compliance with Government Auditing Standards and other regulatory requirements.