Finding 1175333 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABL
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-25
Audit: 389039
Organization: City of Newcastle (WY)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Significant audit adjustments of about $779,000 were needed, indicating weaknesses in the City’s internal controls.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with activities allowed, allowable costs, and accurate reporting of financial statements was not met, leading to potential misstatements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement changes to capitalization policies, adjust debt payments, and ensure accurate recording of revenues and expenses to improve financial reporting.

Finding Text

#2025-002: Audit Adjustments Federal Program Affected: All Compliance Requirement: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Reporting Questioned Costs: None. Condition and Cause: During the course of our engagement, we proposed material audit adjustments resulting in an increase in fund balance of approximately $779,000. Additionally, we annually calculate and record the City’s portion of pension activity from the Wyoming Retirement System and the compensated absence liability as part of the audit process. Criteria and Effect: These adjustments would not have been identified as a result of the City’s existing internal controls, and therefore, could have resulted in a material misstatement of the City’s financial statements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year: Yes, prior year finding #2024-003. Recommendation: We recommend the following: • Items exceeding the $5,000 capitalization policy and having a useful life of more than one year should be capitalized, including construction projects. General fund additions should be coded to capital outlay. • Debt payments within enterprise funds should be posted against the corresponding debt liability, rather than within expenses. • Adjust compensated absences, including taxes and benefits, to agree to their corresponding funds in the general ledger. • Record revenue received in appropriate fund and account, such as grant receipts and sales taxes. • Prepaid expenses should be recorded for amounts paid prior to the fiscal year they pertain to. • Adjust unbilled utility receivables to encompass all of the last month of the fiscal year. • Interest income earned on certificates of deposit should be recorded at least annually. • Revenues received, but not yet spent, should be considered unearned revenue. • Federal grants received and spent should be considered revenue. Response/Corrective Action Plan: See Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan

#2025-002: Audit Adjustments Responsible Individuals: Stacy Haggerty, Clerk/Treasurer Corrective Action Plan: The Clerk/Treasurer has reviewed the recommendations, and such will be implemented as appropriate throughout the year and ahead of the fiscal year 2026 audit. Anticipated Completion Date: Ongoing

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1175324 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175325 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175326 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175327 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175328 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175329 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175330 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175331 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175332 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175334 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $336,464
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $28,278