Finding 1155310 (2023-016)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-09-25
Audit: 367551
Organization: The City of Frederick, Maryland (MD)
Auditor: Brown Plus

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls over federal program reporting, leading to discrepancies between reported amounts and supporting documentation.
  • Impacted Requirements: Financial reports must accurately reflect obligations and expenditures, supported by proper accounting records.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a standardized reconciliation process involving both the reporting team and finance to ensure accurate reporting of federal fund usage.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Identification Number: SLT-8854 Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding: Material weakness in internal control over major program; Noncompliance Criteria: Amounts reported on financial reports should be supported by the accounting records that support the audited financial statements and the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Condition: Amounts reported as obligations and expenditures on the Project and Expenditure Reports did not match the supporting documentation. Cause: Review and approval of grant reporting did not take place at the level needed to support accurate federal reporting. Also, the program has had significant employee turnover. Effect: Misinformation presented to the federal government may lead to federal inquiries of those charged with governance. Context: The supporting documentation for one out of the two Project and Expenditure Reports did not tie to the amounts reported on the report. The information used to prepare the reports did not take into consideration accruals or judgments made by the finance department for the use of federal funds. Recommendation: We recommend that management implement a standardized reconciliation process to ensure that all Project and Expenditure Reports align with supporting documentation. This process should involve coordination between the reporting team and finance to validate that all amounts reported accurately reflect the use of federal funds. Views of Responsible Official(s) and Planned Corrective Actions: See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

A standardized reconciliation process has been recated by our grant accountant to ensure all project and expenditure reports are aligned.

Categories

Reporting Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1155297 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155298 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155299 2023-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155300 2023-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155301 2023-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155302 2023-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155303 2023-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155304 2023-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155305 2023-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155306 2023-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155307 2023-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155308 2023-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155309 2023-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155311 2023-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155312 2023-018
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.106 Airport Improvement Program, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Programs, and Covid-19 Airports Programs $4.30M
93.224 Health Center Program (community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) $2.21M
93.137 Community Programs to Improve Minority Health $2.07M
14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program $1.03M
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $996,154
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $960,360
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $786,960
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $452,538
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $271,995
14.267 Continuum of Care Program $184,808
16.745 Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program $94,827
21.026 Homeowner Assistance Fund $85,771
93.150 Projects for Assistance in Transition From Homelessness (path) $74,103
81.042 Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons $62,520
16.753 Congressionally Recommended Awards $41,550
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $26,732
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $26,497
93.499 Low Income Household Water Assistance Program $18,086
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $14,280
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $14,003
95.001 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program $13,275
66.466 Geographic Programs - Chesapeake Bay Program $11,325
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $8,554
66.818 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements $2,487