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FINDING 2024-003 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Programs: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2024 Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The County used COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program money to purchase four ambulances in May 2024. However, the method of acquiring the ambulances was through a lease agreement in which the County paid the full amount of $1,119,505 upon the first payment due date. This use of funds falls under the definition of debt service and is explicitly prohibited by the SLFRF final rule. Therefore, the County is found to be in noncompliance with both the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) 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). . . ." 31 CFR 35.9 states in part: "A recipient must comply with all other applicable Federal statutes, regulations, and executive orders, and a recipient shall provide for compliance with the American Rescue Plan Act, . . ." Federal Register, Vol. 87, No.18, page 4340, January 27, 2022, states in part: ". . . For all recipients, funds may not be used for debt service or replenishing financial reserves . . ." Federal Register, Vol. 87, No.18, page 4430, January 27, 2022, states in part: ". . . The final rule maintains the restriction on the use of funds for debt service . . . First, debt services and reserve replenishment costs do not constitute the provision of services to constituents. As noted in the interim final rule, financing expenses––such as issuance of debt or payment of debt service––do not provide services or aid to citizens. . . . With SLFRF resources available, recipients have less need to incur debt for otherwise-eligible SLFRF uses. . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 18 GRANT COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Cause A deficiency in internal controls over allowable activities and allowable costs led to noncompliance. County officials were not aware SLFRF funding could not be used to pay the remaining balance of a lease agreement. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the internal control system cannot be capable of effectively preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance. Federal award funds were used for unallowable costs, placing the County in noncompliance with program requirements. Noncompliance with the provision of federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award could result in the loss of federal funding to the county. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the County review and evaluate internal controls over federal programs to ensure compliance with applicable requirements. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.