Finding 1138275 (2024-009)

- Repeat Finding
Requirement
F
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-05-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Property and equipment acquired with CDBG-DR funds are being incorrectly expensed instead of capitalized due to a non-compliant capitalization threshold.
  • Impacted Requirements: The capitalization policy should align with BGCPR Finance Policies, which require capitalization of assets costing $500 or more for CDBG-DR funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should update the capitalization policy and implement a corrective action plan to ensure compliance and accurate financial reporting by June 30, 2025.

Finding Text

ALN 14.218-CDBG-DR/Entitlement Grant Category: Compliance/internal control significant deficiency Compliance requirement: Real property and equipment Criteria: BGCPR Finance Policies to administer CDBG-DR funds, established by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing in Chapter 15, Section 2, require that sub-recipients must capitalize property and equipment with a cost of $500 or more. Condition: The capitalization threshold used for property and equipment acquired with CDBG funds is not in compliance with Finance Policies to administer CDBG-DR funds, as established by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing. Cause: The capitalization policy followed by BGCPR, with the exception of CDBG funds, is to capitalize property and equipment with a cost of $5,000 or more. Effect or potential effect: Property and equipment acquired with CDBG-DR funds is being expensed instead of capitalizedContext: In two instances reviewed, property and equipment acquired with CDBG-DR funds were not recorded in the equipment detail, resulting in the assets being expensed instead of capitalized as required by the Finance Policies to administer CDBG-DR funds. Prior year finding: During the year ended June 30, 2023, this condition was associated with finding 2023-002. Recommendation: We recommend that management updates its capitalization policy to include this specific requirement for property and equipment acquired with CDBG-DR funds. Views of responsible officials: BGCPR acknowledges a significant oversight in the financial management of assets acquired with Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. Specifically, it has been identified that certain property and equipment purchased using these funds were not properly recorded in the equipment detail ledger. As a result of this omission, these assets were incorrectly treated as expenses in the financial records, rather than being capitalized in accordance with BGCPR’s established financial policies and the federal guidelines governing the administration of CDBG-DR funds. This misclassification not only affects the accuracy of BGCPR’s financial statements but also represents a deviation from required asset management practices, which mandate the capitalization and tracking of equipment to ensure accountability, proper depreciation, and compliance with grant conditions As a corrective measure, BGCPR will take the following actions and will anticipate completing on June 30, 2025: a. BGCPR will implement a corrective action plan to strengthen accounting processes related to account registration and equipment capitalization related to the CDBG-DR. b. Procurement procedures for requesting, approving, and accepting goods and services, Include agency consultation c. Ensure accuracy in financial records that Maintain compliance with applicable regulations. d. Account for taxes and support service costs (e.g., installation, delivery). e. Ensure all purchases align with federal regulations.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Equipment & Real Property Management Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Subrecipient Monitoring Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.850 Public Housing Operating Fund $2.29M
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $1.69M
84.215J Innovative Approaches to Literacy; Promise Neighborhoods; Full-Service Community Schools; and Congressionally Directed Spending for Elementary and Secondary Education Community Projects $996,916
84.425U Education Stabilization Fund $837,129
10.536 Cacfp Training Grants $659,247
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $595,000
84.010A Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $590,291
17.274 Youthbuild $545,168
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $521,289
93.600 Head Start $404,696
10.553 School Breakfast Program $213,218
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $175,176
84.282B Charter Schools $131,094
14.870 Resident Opportunity and Supportive Services - Service Coordinators $119,032
10.555 National School Lunch Program $46,335
93.356 Head Start Disaster Recovery $26,800
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $25,999
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance $18,874
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $18,762
16.818 Children Exposed to Violence $17,066
93.060 Sexual Risk Avoidance Education $14,790
93.596 Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund $2,070
16.726 Juvenile Mentoring Program $1,000
14.862 Indian Community Development Block Grant Program $950