Finding 1160201 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-10-08
Audit: 370566
Organization: Town of Salem (NH)
Auditor: Cbiz

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance, specifically related to the reporting process for federal funds.
  • Impacted Requirements: The Town must ensure effective internal controls to prevent and detect noncompliance with federal program requirements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement formal policies for separation of duties, requiring a second individual to be involved in the reporting process.

Finding Text

001 Improve Controls Over Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Program: COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds AL Number: 21.027 Award Year: 2024 Type of Finding Internal Control over Compliance – Significant Deficiency Criteria or Specific Requirement Management of the Town is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over compliance with federal requirements that have a direct and material effect on a federal program. A deficiency in internal control over compliance exists when the design or operation of a control over compliance does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct, noncompliance with a type of compliance requirement of a federal program on a timely basis. Condition and Context Reports required to be submitted to grantors do not have a separate preparer and reviewer. Cause Weaknesses in the design of internal controls. Effect or Potential Effect There are no questioned costs as a result of this finding as there are no costs directly associated with the finding. Identification as Repeat Finding As identified in Section IV, the Schedule of Prior Year Findings, this is a repeat of finding 2023- 003. Recommendation The Town should implement formal policies and procedures regarding separation of duties and the requirement of a second individual being involved in the reporting process. Views of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Action Management’s views and Corrective Action Plan are included at the end of this report after the Schedule of Prior Year Findings.

Corrective Action Plan

DATE: September 29, 2025 TO: CBIZ FROM: CC: Nicole McGee Finance Director Joseph Devine Town Manager RE: Corrective Action for FY 2024 Finding 1 Corrective Action Plan for Finding 2024-001 “Improve Controls Over Reporting” Policies and procedures were enacted at the end of calendar year 2024 to ensure there is a second person involved in the reporting process. Since then, all grant submissions must be reviewed by a second person. Expected Completion Date: December 31, 2024. Contact Person: Nicole McGee, Finance Director

Categories

Reporting Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $866,724
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $253,173
16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants $176,021
66.468 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund $59,027
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $52,294
16.922 Equitable Sharing Program $46,368
16.588 Violence Against Women Formula Grants $30,000
95.001 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program $16,754
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $15,856
15.916 Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning $12,461
97.047 Bric: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities $8,370