Finding Text
Finding 2024-018 – Lack of 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: During the process of documenting the County’s internal controls regarding federal disbursements, we noted that the County has not established procedures to ensure compliance with the following compliance requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed; Allowable Costs/Cost Principles; Procurement and Suspension and Debarment; Special Tests and Provisions. Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure federal expenditures are made in accordance with federal compliance requirements. Effect of Condition: This condition could result in noncompliance with grant requirements and could result in a loss of federal funds to the County. Recommendation: OSAI recommends the County gain an understanding of requirements for this program and implement internal control procedures to ensure compliance with requirements. Management Response: Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: The Board of County Commissioners will work with all County Officials to go over all grants and federal monies that the County receives to ensure that proper internal controls are implemented. Criteria: OMB 2 CFR 200, Subpart D. 200.303(a) reads as follows: Subpart D-Post Federal Award Requirements §200.303 Internal Controls The non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Further, accountability and stewardship should be overall goals in management's accounting of federal funds. Internal controls should be designed to monitor compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to grant contracts.