Finding 1156998 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-30
Audit: 369308
Organization: Town of Clinton (MA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town reported understated cumulative expenditures by about $148,000 and overstated cumulative obligations by approximately $3,505,000.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR section 200.328 was not met, as the Project and Expenditure report was filed nearly eleven months late.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Town should establish reconciliation procedures for financial reports and ensure timely filing to meet reporting deadlines.

Finding Text

2024-003 U.S. Department of the Treasury COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - ALN 21.027 Material Weakness in Internal Controls Over Compliance and Compliance Finding Criteria: Per 2 CFR section 200.328 of the Uniform Guidance, each recipient must report program outlays and program income on a cash or accrual basis, as prescribed by the federal awarding agency. The compliance supplement identifies four Key Line Items required to be reported to the federal awarding agency which include (1) current period obligation, (2) cumulative obligation, (3) current period expenditure and (4) cumulative expenditure. An obligation is an order placed for property and services and entering into contracts, subawards, and similar transactions that require payment. Condition: As of the March 31, 2024, reporting date, the Town’s Project and Expenditure report had reported cumulative expenditures that were understated by approximately $148,000 and cumulative obligations were overstated by approximately $3,505,000. Additionally, the Project and Expenditure report for the period ending March 31, 2024, was not filed until March 25, 2025. Cause: The Town did not reconcile the Project and Expenditure report with the Town’s general ledger before submitting. Additionally, the Town had a lack of formal review process to make sure the report was filed in a timely manner. Effect: The Town did not properly report grant expenditures and obligations in the Project and Expenditure report that was filed nearly eleven months after the deadline. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: The Town should implement procedures to reconcile the financial information in the Project and Expenditure reports to the Town’s general ledger and contract files within a timely manner of reporting deadline. Views of Responsible Official: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-003 – As of the March 31, 2024 reporting date, the Town reported projects approved by the Select Board as obligated rather than purchases, contracts and agreements that met the Federal criteria of an obligation. The Projects and Expenditure report for the period ending March 31, 2024 was not filed until March 25, 2025. Corrective Action Planned: The Projects and Expenditure report for period ending March 31, 2024 was filed after the deadline due to a technological issue preventing access to the portal that was documented with both the U.S. Treasury and Login.gov Helpdesk. A new managed service provider working for the Town of Clinton was successful in correcting the issue for a timely filing of the 2025 report and all State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) projects were obligated by the 12/31/24 deadline. Completion Date: April 30, 2025 Contact: Michael J. Ward, Town Administrator

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness Reporting Program Income Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1156989 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156990 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156991 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156992 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156993 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156994 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156995 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156996 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156997 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1156999 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1157000 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $880,295
10.553 School Breakfast Program $207,723
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $153,905
66.468 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund $82,699
10.555 National School Lunch Program $76,986
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $60,022
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States $40,000
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $39,204
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $21,435
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $21,340
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $18,959
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $8,927
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $5,446
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $3,200
84.173 Special Education Preschool Grants $1,167