Finding 1161156 (2023-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-10-22
Audit: 371169
Organization: City of Merced (CA)
Auditor: EIDE BAILLY LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: $2,198,655 in federal expenditures were incorrectly reported under the wrong assistance listing number (AL # 21.019) instead of the correct AL # 21.027.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Title 2 CFR Part 200, which mandates accurate reporting of federal awards, was not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The City should regularly review updated guidance on grant programs to ensure accurate reporting in the future.

Finding Text

Program: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listing No.: 21.027 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Passed-through: N/A – direct award Award Number and Year: ARPA Compliance Requirement: Other Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria: Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) requires that management prepare schedule of expenditures of federal awards (schedule) showing the correct assistance listing (AL) numbers and program names. Condition: During a subsequent audit, it was discovered that $2,198,655 in federal expenditures were misreported as AL # 21.019. The Compliance and Reporting Guidance, published by the United States Department of the Treasury stipulated that grant awards that had issued under section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act should be reported under AL # 21.027. Cause: The United States Department of the Treasury initially issued the grant award with AL # 21.019 and the City did not review the additional guidance provided by the Department of Treasury that stipulated the AL change. Effect: A significant portion of the Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF) expenditures were not audited as a major program and the report had to be recalled and reissued. Questioned Costs: None Reported. Context/Sampling: Misstatement identified while testing SEFA. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No. Recommendation: We recommend that the City review up-to-date guidance on all grant programs that is received to ensure correct reporting. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: See separate corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2023‐001 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Program/Cluster: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Federal Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass‐through: n/a – direct award Award No. and Year: ARPA - 2021 Compliance Requirement: Other Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: In this instance, the program’s listing number was not updated to reflect the most recent amendment announced by the federal government. While listing numbers typically remain unchanged once assigned to a program, an exception occurred in this case and was not identified due to prior practices. In response, the Finance Management Team has established new procedures and directed responsible staff to periodically review federal guidelines and implement any necessary updates in the City's system to ensure compliance and accuracy including change in the listing numbers. Responsible Individual(s): Finance Management Team City of Merced Anticipated Completion Date: October 02, 2025

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1161154 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1161155 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 COVID-19 - CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $5.99M
21.027 COVID-19 - CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND $2.20M
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $663,084
20.106 COVID-19 - AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, COVID-19 AIRPORTS PROGRAMS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT PROGRAMS $588,426
20.106 AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, COVID-19 AIRPORTS PROGRAMS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT PROGRAMS $329,748
14.218 COVID-19 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $132,433
97.044 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT $118,635
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $60,000
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $16,406
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $5,102
20.616 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $4,152
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $100