Finding 1172832 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-09
Audit: 386178
Organization: City of Council Bluffs (IA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Subaward information was not reported in the FSRS on time, violating federal reporting requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Timely reporting of subawards and amendments is essential for transparency and accountability in government spending.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Improve internal procedures to ensure subaward reporting is completed within 30 days of agreement execution and amendments.

Finding Text

Assistance Listing Number 14.218 – CDBG Entitlement/Special Purpose Grants Cluster Department of Housing and Urban Development, Award Number B-24-MC-19-005 Award Period – January 1, 2024 – September 1, 2031 Criteria or specific requirement – Subaward agreements, amendments, and modifications that are at or above the subaward reporting requirement under Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations must be reported in the Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) no later than the last day of the month following the month in which the subaward or subaward amendment obligation was made. Condition – Subaward information was not reported in FSRS within the required time frame. Cause – Federal awards are awarded by the federal agency late in the calendar year with effective dates of January 1 of the same year. This results in subawards being obligated late in the calendar year after the grant has been awarded to the City. The City reported subaward information in FSRS before the calendar year ended. Effect - Reporting provides information to the public to hold the government accountable for each spending decision and assist with reducing wasteful spending. Untimely reporting does not provide an accurate detail of government spending. Questioned costs - None. Context – Subaward agreements and modifications were obligated during fiscal year 2025 to which the FFATA requirements applied. We selected a sample of one subaward out of a population of three. The one subaward tested was not submitted in a timely manner. The sample was not, and was not intended to be, a stastically valid sample. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable – See 2024-001. Recommendation – We recommend that procedures related to reporting of subaward information in FSRS be improved to provide timely reporting. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions – Housing and Economic Development Staff will update its internal policy to submit FFATA within 30 days of the final execution of the CDBG annual budget, Annual Action Plan, and subaward agreements, along with any amendments to these listed agreements. The original agreements typically happen in October and will be completed by November to meet the standard of submission within 30 days of allocation. We will also review amendments to ensure they are also filed within 30 days of execution.

Corrective Action Plan

We have reviewed procedures and plan to make the necessary changes to improve reporting timeliness. Staff will update its internal policy to submit the FFATA within 30 days of execution of the CDBG annual budget, Annual Action Plan, and subaward agreements, along with any amendments to these agreements. Contact Person, Title, Phone Number Christopher Gibbons, Interim Director of Community Development, (712) 890-5358 Anticipated Date of Completion January 30, 2026

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $6.82M
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $1.56M
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $764,481
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $520,309
14.251 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS $406,401
66.818 BROWNFIELDS MULTIPURPOSE, ASSESSMENT, REVOLVING LOAN FUND, AND CLEANUP COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $396,118
14.905 LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM $233,576
21.026 HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND $181,359
10.727 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $149,534
20.513 ENHANCED MOBILITY OF SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES $90,000
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $71,000
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $51,407
95.001 HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM $22,615
16.607 BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM $1,600
16.710 PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY POLICING GRANTS $1,109