Audit 9456

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$9.81M
Findings
2
Programs
16
Organization: City of Marlborough (MA)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-01-04

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Contacts

Name Title Type
LGL5JFM5KDB8 Diane Smith Auditee
5084603774 Paul Gargano Auditor
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Notes to SEFA

Title: Basis of Presentation Accounting Policies: Accounting policies and financial reporting practices permitted for municipalities in Massachusetts are prescribed by the Uniform Municipal Accounting System (UMAS) promulgated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The accompanying Schedule includes the federal grant transactions of the City. Although some of these programs may be supplemented with state and other revenue, only federal activity is shown. 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. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The City has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) includes the federal award activity of the City of Marlborough, Massachusetts (the City) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2023. 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 City, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net position, or cash flows of the City.
Title: U.S. Department of Agriculture Programs Accounting Policies: Accounting policies and financial reporting practices permitted for municipalities in Massachusetts are prescribed by the Uniform Municipal Accounting System (UMAS) promulgated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The accompanying Schedule includes the federal grant transactions of the City. Although some of these programs may be supplemented with state and other revenue, only federal activity is shown. 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. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The City has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The City receives non-cash commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a part of the National School Lunch program. The amounts reported as non-cash assistance represent the fair market value of these commodities received during the year. The amounts reported as cash assistance represent federal reimbursements for meals provided.
Title: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Programs Accounting Policies: Accounting policies and financial reporting practices permitted for municipalities in Massachusetts are prescribed by the Uniform Municipal Accounting System (UMAS) promulgated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The accompanying Schedule includes the federal grant transactions of the City. Although some of these programs may be supplemented with state and other revenue, only federal activity is shown. 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. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The City has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Disaster Grants – Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disaster) expenditures are recognized when the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) approves the City’s project worksheet (PW) and the City has incurred the eligible expenditures. The amounts reported in the Schedule include $74,652 of expenditures incurred in prior fiscal years but awarded by FEMA in the current fiscal year.
Title: Component Unit – Federal Grant Activities and Uniform Guidance Audit Accounting Policies: Accounting policies and financial reporting practices permitted for municipalities in Massachusetts are prescribed by the Uniform Municipal Accounting System (UMAS) promulgated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The accompanying Schedule includes the federal grant transactions of the City. Although some of these programs may be supplemented with state and other revenue, only federal activity is shown. 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. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The City has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The City of Marlborough has opted to contract with and utilize the Marlborough Community Development Authority, a quasi-public corporation, to carry out on-behalf of the City, program functions relating to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Voucher Cluster grant (CFDA #14.871) awarded to the City of Marlborough. The Marlborough Community Development Authority is recognized as a component unit of the City of Marlborough based upon criteria stipulated in GASB Statement Nos. 14, 39 and 61; primary qualification as a component unit comes as a result of the Marlborough Community Development Authority being in substance a part of the governmental operations of the City. As allowed under Paragraph 12.30 of the GAS/Uniform Guidance AICPA Audit Guide with regards to component units, the City of Marlborough has chosen to have the Marlborough Community Development Authority be responsible for performing the Uniform Guidance audit relative to the grant mentioned above. Accordingly, the activity of this federal award are not covered under this audit report, but under a separate audit report issued by other auditors of the Marlborough Community Development Authority Housing Choice Voucher Program grant. Copies of the Uniform Guidance audit report submitted by the Marlborough Community Development Authority to the Federal Audits Clearinghouse can be obtained by contacting them at: Marlborough Community Development Authority Attn: Chad Carter, Executive Director, 250 Main Street, Marlborough, MA 01752

Finding Details

U.S. Department of the Treasury COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – CFDA 21.027 Criteria: The compliance supplement identifies four Key Line Items required to be reported to the federal awarding agency which include (1) current period obligation, (2) cumulative obligation, (3) current period expenditure and (4) cumulative expenditure. Per 2 CFR 200.1, an obligation is an order placed for property and services, contracts and subawards made, and similar transactions that require payment. Condition: Obligations were overstated by $9,341,064 on the June 30, 2023 Project and Expenditure report. Cause: The City did not have a clear understanding of the reporting requirements for obligations. Effect: The City did not properly report amounts obligated in the June 30, 2023 Project and Expenditure report. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: The City should implement procedures to only report obligations on the Project and Expenditure reporting for items that meet the federal criteria for reporting as an obligation. Views of Responsible Official: Management agrees with the finding.
U.S. Department of the Treasury COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – CFDA 21.027 Criteria: The compliance supplement identifies four Key Line Items required to be reported to the federal awarding agency which include (1) current period obligation, (2) cumulative obligation, (3) current period expenditure and (4) cumulative expenditure. Per 2 CFR 200.1, an obligation is an order placed for property and services, contracts and subawards made, and similar transactions that require payment. Condition: Obligations were overstated by $9,341,064 on the June 30, 2023 Project and Expenditure report. Cause: The City did not have a clear understanding of the reporting requirements for obligations. Effect: The City did not properly report amounts obligated in the June 30, 2023 Project and Expenditure report. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: The City should implement procedures to only report obligations on the Project and Expenditure reporting for items that meet the federal criteria for reporting as an obligation. Views of Responsible Official: Management agrees with the finding.