Finding 1182800 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-03-25
Audit: 394202
Organization: Municipality of Comerio (PR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Municipality failed to submit the required FASS PH financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, leading to noncompliance with HUD requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.327–200.328 and HUD reporting standards is essential for evaluating the financial condition of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish formal internal controls, assign responsibilities, implement a compliance calendar, provide staff training, and submit the outstanding report promptly if late filing is allowed.

Finding Text

FINDING NUMBER 2024-002 REQUIREMENT REPORTING TYPE OF FINDING MATERIAL WEAKNESS FEDERAL PROGRAM 14.871 – SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS CONDITION The Municipality did not submit or file the required FASS PH financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. At the completion of the audit, the report remained outstanding and had not been uploaded to the FASS PH system, resulting in noncompliance with HUD’s reporting requirements. CRITERIA Entities administering the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (AL 14.871) must submit annual financial information to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Financial Assessment Subsystem – Public Housing (FASS PH). This requirement is established under: • 2 CFR 200.327–200.328 (Uniform Guidance reporting requirements) • HUD Uniform Financial Reporting Standards (UFRS) • HUD Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) – FASS PH requirements • Applicable HUD notices and guidance for FY 2024 These regulations require timely submission of complete and accurate financial data to allow HUD to evaluate the financial condition and compliance performance of the Municipality’s Housing Choice Voucher Program. CAUSE The failure to submit the FASS PH report resulted from insufficient internal controls over the financial reporting process. Contributing factors included: • Lack of a formal monitoring process to track HUD reporting deadlines • Inadequate supervisory review of required submissions • Limited staff knowledge of HUD’s UFRS and FASS PH reporting procedures EFFECT Non-compliance may result in HUD administrative actions, negative impact on the municipality’s financial assessment score, delays or interruptions in federal funding and potential for increased oversight or monitoring by HUD. QUESTIONED COST None RECOMMENDATION The municipality should establish and document formal internal controls to ensure timely preparation and submission of the FASS PH report. Assign responsibility to specific personnel and implement a compliance calendar for HUD reporting deadlines. Provide training to financial staff on HUD reporting requirements, UFRS, and the FASS PH system. Implement a supervisory review process to verify completeness and accuracy before submission. Submit the outstanding FASS PH report as soon as possible, if HUD still permits late filing. PRIOR YEAR FINDING None VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS AND PLANNED CORRECTIVE ACTION The Municipality of Comerío made a contract with an auditing firm to work on the reports and submission of the FASS-PH financial report compliance for the years in which the reports were not submitted. Furthermore, instructions were given for the HUD Coordinator to monitor the delivery of reports by the contracted auditing firm and to ensure that the contract for this service is finalized. Personnel in charge: Brenda L. Reyes Rivera, HUD Coordinator Compliance period: April 30, 2026

Corrective Action Plan

The Municipality of Comerío made a contract with an auditing firm to work on the reports and submission of the FASS-PH financial report compliance for the years in which the reports were not submitted. Furthermore, instructions were given for the HUD Coordinator to monitor the delivery of reports by the contracted auditing firm and to ensure that the contract for this service is finalized.

Categories

HUD Housing Programs

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $1.80M
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $1.67M
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $1.20M
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $901,630
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $616,844
21.019 CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND $277,367
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $57,152
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $37,777
14.241 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS $10,520
93.569 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $6,947