Finding 1054694 (2023-009)

Material Weakness
Requirement
M
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-07-11
Audit: 314916
Organization: Town of Big Sandy (MT)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town failed to monitor the North Central Regional Water Authority (NCRWA) for compliance with federal grant requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2CFR 200-part f, leading to NCRWA's lack of awareness regarding federal requirements.
  • Recommended Follow-up: The Town should identify all federal funds and establish monitoring procedures to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

Finding Text

2022/2023-009 Monitoring Subrecipients CFDA Title: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund CFDA Number: 66.468 Federal Award Number: Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023 Award #WRF-22515 and #WRF-22516 Federal Agency: United States Environmental Protection Agency Pass-through Entity: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Subrecipient: North Central Regional Water Authority Condition: The Town reimbursed North Central Regional Water Authority (NCRWA) $900,000 of federal sourced money for expenses related to a federal water project managed and owned by NCRWA. The assets acquired/built by NCRWA are the property of NCRWA. The $900,000 reimbursement is a sub-award of a federal grant from the City to NCRWA. The City did not monitor NCRWA to ensure the money was audited and spent in accordance with the federal requirements. Context: During the federal portion of the audit, we discovered the Town received two federal sourced loans totaling $900,000. We further discovered the money was transferred to another Montana local government to build a water project. Inquiry with the city disclosed no formal monitoring procedures. Criteria: The Town did not monitor the subrecipient (NCRWA) as required by 2CFR 200-part f. Additionally, the Town did not notify NCRWA of the federal requirements for the grant. Effect: The Town was not in compliance with the monitoring requirements of the federal grant. Additionally, NCRWA was not aware of the federal requirements. As a result, their audit did not include this federal grant as part of their annual audit. The federal audit opinion will be qualified for this matter. Cause: The Town was not aware of the monitoring requirements. Recommendation: We recommend the Town identify all federal money and comply with all federal compliance requirements.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
66.468 Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water State Revolving Funds $750,000
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $286,739