Finding Text
Finding 2024-017 – Lack of County-Wide Internal Controls Over Major Federal Program – Highway Planning and Construction Cluster DIRECT GRANT FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. Department of Transportation ASSISTANCE LISTING: 20.205 FEDERAL PROGRAM CLUSTER: Highway Planning and Construction Cluster FEDERAL AWARD YEAR: 2023 CONTROL CATEGORY: Activities Allowed or Unallowed; Allowable Costs/Cost Principles; Procurement and Suspension and Debarment; Special Tests and Provisions QUESTIONED COSTS: $-0- Condition: County-wide internal controls regarding Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Information and Communication, and Monitoring have not been designed. Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure the County complies with grant requirements. Effect of Condition: This condition could result in noncompliance with grant requirements and could result in loss of federal funds to the County. Recommendation: OSAI recommends the County implement a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with grant requirements. Management Response: Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: We will work to implement a Risk Assessment plan over federal grants. We will implement controls to make sure we comply with grant requirements and that federal funds are expended in accordance with grant agreements and in a timely manner. We will ensure employees have the current and correct compliance supplement to work from. Criteria: The GAO Standards – Section 1 – Fundamental Concepts of Internal Control – OV1.01 states in part: Definition of Internal Control Internal control is a process effected by an entity’s oversight body, management, and other personnel that provides reasonable assurance that the objectives of an entity will be achieved. Additionally, GAO Standards – Section 2 – Establishing an Effective Internal Control System – OV2.04 states in part: Components, Principles, and Attributes Control Environment – The foundation for an internal control system. It provides the discipline and structure to help an entity achieve its objectives. Risk Assessment – Assesses the risks facing the entity as it seeks to achieve its objectives. This assessment provides the basis for developing appropriate risk responses. Information and Communication – The quality information management and personnel communicate and use to support the internal control system. Monitoring – Activities management establishes and operates to assess the quality of performance over time and promptly resolve the findings of audits and other reviews.