Finding 1172477 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-02-05
Audit: 385675
Organization: City of Trenton (NJ)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City has unspent grant funds exceeding the 1.5 times limit, indicating a lack of timely project initiation.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates the timeliness standard set by 24 CFR 570.902, risking future grant reductions.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The City should establish better monitoring procedures to ensure compliance with the timeliness standard.

Finding Text

Criteria: Per 24 CFR 570.902, a grantee is determined to not be carrying out its Community Development Block Grant activities in a timely manner, if sixty days prior to the end of the grantee's current program year, the amount of entitlement grant funds available to the City under grant agreements but undisbursed by the U.S. Treasury is more than 1.5 times the entitlement grant amount for its program year, and if the grantee fails to demonstrate to the grantor’s satisfaction that the lack of timeliness has resulted from factors beyond the grantee's reasonable control. Condition: We tested whether the City is in compliance with the timeliness standard pursuant to 24 CFR 570.902 by calculating the ratio of unspent funds in its line of credit to the amount of its current program year entitlement grant as of December 31, 2024. We noted the ratio is above the maximum ratio of 1.5. Cause: Program managers inadequately monitored program spending in order to timely initiate projects as laid out in the Action Plan. Effect: If the City does not meet the 1.5 timeliness requirement at the time the next 60-day ratio is measured, a future grant may be reduced by 100% of the amount exceeding the 1.5 standard. Perspective Information: This finding represents a systemic issue. Identification of Repeat Finding: 2023-001 Recommendation: We recommend that the City implement procedures to ensure the timeliness standard is met. View of Responsible Official: The City is in agreement with this finding and will complete and implement a corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

The City of Trenton has a modified timeliness goal based on the issues and conditions outlined in the FY2023 CDBG grant agreement, which allows the City to meet the timeliness requirement within three years (by 2027), as agreed upon and signed with HUD. During FY 2024, as reported in the most recent CAPER for the period ending June 30, 2025, the City expended over $3.3 million in CDBG funds. Continued regular monthly drawdowns of CDBG grant funds will help ensure we remain on track to meet this timeliness requirement.

Categories

No categories assigned yet.

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1172476 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172478 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172479 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172480 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172481 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172482 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172483 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172484 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172485 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172486 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172487 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172488 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172489 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172490 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172491 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172492 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172493 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $14.77M
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $4.30M
14.267 CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM $3.89M
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $280,166
93.044 Special Programs for the Aging, Title III, Part B, Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers $223,532
66.818 BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT AND CLEANUP COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $221,755
97.044 FEMA Assistance Firefighters Grant $195,455
16.710 PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY POLICING GRANTS $180,956
93.069 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS $124,384
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $27,245
99.U01 Safe Streets Task Force FBI $8,973
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $8,237
14.251 Brownfield Cleanup Program $7,614
99.U02 US Marshals Service $3,782