Finding 1162977 (2024-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-11-25

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Municipality failed to submit required monthly reports for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds on time, leading to a significant deficiency in compliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Monthly reporting to the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (Aafaf) is mandated, with reports due 15 days after the end of each month.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Municipality should establish internal controls to ensure timely submission of reports and maintain documentation of compliance efforts.

Finding Text

Type of finding: Federal Award. Situation: Significant deficiency; compliance with federal regulations. Federal Program: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ALN 21.027) Compliance Requirements: Reporting Prior-Year(s) Audit Finding(s): None Questioned Costs: None Condition: The Municipality did provide for our review 3 monthly reports required to be submitted to the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (Aafaf) for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds. Program regulations state that the report must be submitted monthly. Context: The Municipality submitted to the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (Aafaf) nine out of twelve reports for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds - Use of Funds Report for all the expenses incurred under the Assistance Program to Municipalities instead of submitting the report on a monthly basis as required by program regulations. Criteria: Under the Municipal Strengthening Fund Program, the Municipality must report to the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (Aafaf) program expenses for the month, 15 days after the end of the month. Cause: On three occasions, the Municipality did not submit the Use of Funds Report to the Aafaf by the 15th day of the following month; the expenses were incurred. Effect: The Municipality is not in compliance with its grant awards. Auditor’s recommendation: The Municipality should implement internal controls and procedures to assure that the required reports are completed and submitted in a timely manner as per program regulations. View of responsible officials: Management concurs with the Finding. We gave instructions to the Fiscal Staff to maintain a dateline control sheet to ascertain that required reports were submitted within the due date and to retain evidence on file about each submission.

Corrective Action Plan

Management concurs with the Finding. We gave instructions to the Fiscal Staff to maintain a dateline control sheet to ascertain that required reports were submitted within the due date and to retain evidence on file about each submission.

Categories

Reporting Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1162976 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $1.31M
93.600 HEAD START $1.15M
97.030 COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS $627,120
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $238,086
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $88,040
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $34,902
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $32,387
81.128 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (EECBG) $25,000
21.019 CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND $4,080