Finding Text
AL number: 14.231 and 21.027, AL title: Emergency Solutions Grant Program and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Federal award identification number and year:LAHSA agreements: GT-BH-ABH-021, GT-BH-RTV-001, GT-BH-RTV-002, GT-BH-RTV-003, GT-BH-RTV-004, GT-BH-RTV-009, GT-TLS-N-013, GTRRH- RR-02, GT-CH-WS-001, GT-1878-2102-001. California Department of Housing and Community Development 21-HK-17231, 21-HK-17171, 21-HK- 17192, County of Los Angeles ARPA funds awarded in 2022. Name of federal agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of the Treasury Name of pass-through entity: County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, California Department of Housing and Community Development Repeat finding: No Criteria: Per 2 CFR §200.510(b), the SEFA must include: - A list of individual federal programs by agency, including the Assistance Listing number. - The total federal awards expended for each program, including capital projects funded by federal grants. - Amounts passed through to subrecipients. - Outstanding balances for loan or loan guarantee programs. - Significant accounting policies used in preparing the SEFA. Condition: During our audit of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), we identified that the schedule was incomplete. Specifically, certain federal awards were either omitted or incorrectly reported, including a significant omission of $52 million in federal funds received for capital projects. These amounts should have been included in the SEFA as part of the entity’s total federal expenditures. Cause: The omission of the capital project funds appears to have resulted from a misunderstanding of what constitutes an expenditure for SEFA reporting purposes. The entity may not have recognized that capital outlays funded by federal grants must be included, leading to an understated SEFA. Other errors in the SEFA appear to have resulted from inadequate reconciliation processes between the entity’s accounting records and federal grant reports. Possible effect: An incomplete SEFA could result in noncompliance with the Uniform Guidance and an incomplete Single Audit. Questioned cost: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that management: - Implement a reconciliation process to ensure that all federal expenditures are accurately captured in the SEFA. - Provide additional training for accounting personnel on federal reporting requirements. - Review all local government awards to determine whether Federal funds are a component of the contracts. - Review SEFA data for completeness and accuracy before submission. The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) provided to the audit firm was incomplete due to two primary factors: (1) insufficient understanding by staff regarding the requirement to include federally funded capital expenditures, and (2) improper recording of property acquisitions. Management acknowledges this oversight, which occurred during the implementation of a new program and at a time when staff were not fully aware that such expenditures must be reflected on the SEFA. Furthermore, certain capital expenditures paid directly through escrow were not recorded in the organization’s accounting records. To remediate these issues, management has taken the following corrective actions: - Delivered targeted training to staff on the proper treatment and reporting of federally funded capital expenditures; - Updated internal closing and reporting procedures to incorporate a formal review of balance sheet activity; and - Updated internal closing and reporting procedures to incorporate a reconciliation to settlement statements when recording new property acquisitions; and - Strengthened internal controls to ensure all federally funded capital items are accurately captured in future SEFA submissions. Management is committed to maintaining compliance with federal reporting requirements and ensuring the completeness and accuracy of future SEFA filings.