Finding 1175590 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-02-26
Audit: 389420
Organization: Municipality of Lajas (PR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Municipality submitted its Single Audit Report after the 9-month deadline, violating the Single Audit Act requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance could lead to administrative actions and indicates poor management of federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish stronger controls and procedures to ensure timely submission of the audit report, including an accelerated procurement process for auditors.

Finding Text

SECTION III – FEDERAL AWARDS FINDING AND QUESTIONED COSTS FINDING NUMBER 2024-002 REQUIREMENT REPORTING TYPE OF FINDING MATERIAL WEAKNESS CONDITION The Single Audit Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, of the Municipality with due date of March 31, 2025 was submitted after the 9 months deadline. The Single Audit related to such a period was completed after 9-month deadline. CRITERIA Public Law 104-156, known as the Single Audit Act, section 7502 (h) (1) and (2)(B) establish that the non-Federal Organization shall transmit the reporting package, which shall include the non-Federal Organization’s financial statements, schedule of expenditures of Federal awards, corrective action plan defined under subsection (i), and auditor’s reports developed pursuant to this section, to a Federal clearinghouse designated by the Director, and make it available for public inspection within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of the auditor’s report; or 9 months after the end of the period audited, or within a longer timeframe authorized by the Federal agency, determined under criteria issued under section 7504, when the 9-month timeframe would place an undue burden on the non-Federal Organization. EFFECT Non-compliance with the above-mentioned requirement could lead to administrative actions by the grantor. It could also be interpreted as a failure to manage federal awards in compliance with laws, regulations, and provisions of contracts and grant agreements. QUESTIONED COST None RECOMMENDATION The municipality shall establish controls and procedures to enable compliance with completion and submission of the Single Audit Report to the Federal Clearinghouse before the 9-month deadline. Finding represents a significant problem. The municipality will accelerate the process to contract auditors to carry out the audit and submit the report on time. PRIOR YEAR FINDING This finding is a prior year finding identified as 2023-002. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE The Municipality has taken all necessary administrative measures toOFFICIALS AND PLANNED ensure compliance with the requirement to complete and submit the CORRECTIVE ACTION Single Audit Act. The Municipality has established a formal audit compliance calendar with interim milestones covering audit procurement/engagement, planning, fieldwork, issuance of draft reports, management review, and submission to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. The Municipality has accelerated the procurement process to contract auditors earlier in the fiscal year and will include clear deliverables, target dates, and communication expectations in the audit engagement agreement. The Finance Department has prepared and maintains a standardized prepared-by-client (PBC) package to ensure that all required schedules and supporting documentation (including financial statement support, trial balances, and federal awards documentation such as the SEFA) are provided to auditors in a timely manner. Periodic status meetings have been held with responsible personnel and external auditors to monitor progress, promptly identify delays, and implement corrective measures to ensure the reporting package is submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse before the 9-month deadline. Responsible Officials Finance Director / Federal Programs Coordinator/ Procurement Officer Estimated Completion Date June 30, 2026

Corrective Action Plan

The Municipality has taken all necessary administrative measures to ensure compliance with the requirement to complete and submit the Single Audit Act. The Municipality has established a formal audit compliance calendar with interim milestones covering audit procurement/engagement, planning, fieldwork, issuance of draft reports, management review, and submission to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. The Municipality has accelerated the procurement process to contract auditors earlier in the fiscal year and will include clear deliverables, target dates, and communication expectations in the audit engagement agreement. The Finance Department has prepared and maintains a standardized prepared-by-client (PBC) package to ensure that all required schedules and supporting documentation (including financial statement support, trial balances, and federal awards documentation such as the SEFA) are provided to auditors in a timely manner. Periodic status meetings have been held with responsible personnel and external auditors to monitor progress, promptly identify delays, and implement corrective measures to ensure the reporting package is submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse before the 9-month deadline.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1175587 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175588 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175589 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $2.68M
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $1.53M
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $484,005
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $469,021
10.770 WATER AND WASTE GRANTS AND LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES (SECTION 306C) $326,545
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $73,237
93.569 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $50,216
93.045 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE III, PART C, NUTRITION SERVICES $28,337
93.044 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE III, PART B, GRANTS FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SENIOR CENTERS $27,769
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $16,003
93.053 NUTRITION SERVICES INCENTIVE PROGRAM $9,056
97.030 COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS $1,479