Finding Text
Condition: County-wide controls regarding Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Information and Communication and Monitoring have not been designed. Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure the County complies with grant requirements. Effect of Condition: This condition could result in noncompliance to grant requirements and could lead to a loss of federal funds to the County. Recommendation: OSAI recommends that the County design and implement a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with grant requirements. Management Response: Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: I plan to communicate with the Budget Board regarding this finding and have already introduced to the Budget Board, a form guideline called “Payne County Grant Administration Plan” to aid in maintaining proper documentation, reporting and proper spending of all grant awards. County Clerk: The Payne County Budget Board has approved and adopted a Federal Funding Checklist as well as Federal Funding Guidelines on agreements and awards. The Payne County Clerk’s Office also communicates with each department and requests that they report to our office any federal grants and awards they receive and report those on their Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) annually to our office. We also communicate with the Treasurer’s office and request to know when any federal money has been received. Criteria: 2 CFR 200, Subpart D. 200.303(a) reads as follows: The non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Further, accountability and stewardship should be overall goals in management's accounting of federal funds. Internal controls should be designed to monitor compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to grant contracts.The GAO Standards – Section 1 – Fundamental Concepts of Internal Control – OV1.01 states in part: Definition of Internal Control Internal control is a process effected by an entity’s oversight body, management, and other personnel that provides reasonable assurance that the objectives of an entity will be achieved. Additionally, GAO Standards – Section 2 – Establishing an Effective Internal Control System – OV2.04 states in part: Components, Principles, and Attributes Control Environment - The foundation for an internal control system. It provides the discipline and structure to help an entity achieve its objectives. Risk Assessment - Assesses the risks facing the entity as it seeks to achieve its objectives. This assessment provides the basis for developing appropriate risk responses. Information and Communication - The quality information management and personnel communicate and use to support the internal control system. Monitoring - Activities management establishes and operates to assess the quality of performance over time and promptly resolve the findings of audits and other reviews.