Finding 1153776 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-22
Audit: 366872
Organization: City of Waukesha (WI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Quarterly reports were not independently reviewed before submission, violating OMB guidance.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with OMB guidance in 2 CFR part 180 and related regulations requiring separate review of reports.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should appoint a new reviewer for quarterly reports to ensure compliance and accuracy.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-001: Report Review Program: 66.958 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Federal Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Award No: WIFIA-N18147WI Award Year: 2024 Criteria: OMB guidance in 2 CFR part 180, which implements Executive Orders 12549 and 12689; (2 CFR section 200.318(c)) and 48 CFR sections 52.203-13 and 52.303-16 requires quarterly reports to be reviewed by someone other than the original preparer. Condition/Context: Quarterly reports submitted were not reviewed by someone other than the preparer. The quarterly reports are both prepared and signed by the Administrative Services Manager. While the information used in preparing the reports is gathered from the City and Black & Veatch (Construction Manager) is detailed and goes through reviews prior to being provided, there is no independent review of the report prior to authorization and submittal. Two out of the four quarterly reports were tested. Our sample was not statistically valid. Cause: The water utility has had staffing changes in that the individual who has previously reviewed the reports, had gone to part time. Effect: While the underlying data used to prepare the reports is reviewed, without an independent review of the reports the report submitted may not match the underlying data. Questioned Costs: None noted. Recommendation: We recommend that management identify an individual to complete a review of quarterly reports prepared prior to submission. Management Response: While management understands the role of the review of the quarterly reports they were relying on the reviews of the underlying information during this transition.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-001 Condition Quarterly reports submitted were not reviewed by someone other than the preparer. The quarterly reports are both prepared and signed by the Administrative Services Manager. While the information used in preparing the reports is gathered from the City and Black & Veatch (Construction Manager) is detailed and goes through reviews prior to being provided, there is no independent review of the report prior to authorization and submittal. Corrective Action Plan Quarterly reports will continue to have information gathered from the Construction Managers and the City of Waukesha Engineer working on the projects. The Senior Accountant or other appropriate staff member will prepare the quarterly report and the Administrative Services Manager will then review the report, sign it, and submit the quarterly report to the EPA. Name(s) of Contact Person(s) Responsible for the Corrective Action: Cortney Nagel, Administrative Services Manager Anticipated Date of Completion: 09/30/2025

Categories

No categories assigned yet.

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
66.458 Clean Water State Revolving Fund $8.59M
66.958 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (wifia) $5.85M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $3.12M
16.321 Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve $380,376
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $242,802
16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants $199,078
20.237 Motor Carrier Safety Assistance High Priority Activities Grants and Cooperative Agreements $155,707
20.525 State of Good Repair Grants Program $110,892
20.526 Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low Or No Emissions Programs $89,095
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $43,903
20.507 Federal Transit Formula Grants $39,900
95.001 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program $17,483
16.607 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program $11,206