Finding 1187100 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-26
Audit: 394835
Auditor: MIKE ESTES PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Interfund payables have significantly increased, indicating potential misuse of funds meant for specific programs.
  • Impacted Requirements: Funds must be used for their designated purposes; excessive interfund loans can lead to ineligible transfers.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should explore options to reduce interfund amounts, including transferring nonfederal funds and adjusting HCV Admin fee allocations.

Finding Text

Low Rent Program-ALN#14.850 and Housing Choice Voucher Program #14.871- Allowable Costs Finding 2025-001-Interfund Payables Need To Be Reduced Criteria and Condition Funds may not be permanently used and thus transferred between funds. Low Rent funds must ultimately be used for Low Rent purposes, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) funds used for HCV purposes, etc. Funds may be temporarily loaned in essence, when one fund pays overhead for the other, such as a split payroll. However, the loans should be promptly repaid, and the interfund receivables and payables kept to a minimum and in an evergreen situation. Context The amount owed by the Component Unit to the General Fund has increased from $15,042 at June 30, 2023 to $246,933 at June 30, 2025. In addition, the amount owed by the HCV Fund has increased from $2,774 to $66,457 at June 30, 2025. Effect The risk is increased by the substantial amounts currently owed that the Low Rent program might not be repaid. Thus, ineligible transfers would exist. Cause The current Executive Director assumed this position in December 2025, after year end. The prior E.D. was likely aware that funds exist to repay the balances owed, as noted in View of Responsible Officials below. Questioned Cost None Recommendation Management should continue to review for ways and means to reduce the interfund amounts. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions I am Anna Richman, Executive Director and Designated Person to answer these findings. As a new E.D., I have only recently become aware of this situation. To reduce the interfund amounts, the avenues we may pursue include but are not limited to the following: Nonfederal funds are maintained in the State and Local Fund. For reporting purposes, this fund is combined with the Low Rent program to comprise the General Fund. We may transfer some of these nonfederal funds to the Component Unit and the HCV Fund to allow them to reduce the interfund loans. Nonfederal funds may be used for this purpose. In addition, we may transfer an increased percentage of the HCV Admin fee to be periodically transferred to the General Fund. We also note that if and when the tangible property of the Veterans Resource Center is ever sold, the funds would revert to the General Fund.

Corrective Action Plan

LAWTON HOUSING AUTHORITY 609 SW F Avenue Lawton, OK 73501 Phone No. (580) 353-7392 Fax No. (580) 353-6111 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF LAWTON, OKLAHOMA CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 Finding 2025-001-Interfund Payables Need To Be Reduced Condition Funds may not be permanently used and thus transferred between funds. Low Rent funds must ultimately be used for Low Rent purposes, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) funds used for HCV purposes, etc. Funds may be temporarily loaned in essence, when one fund pays overhead for the other, such as a split payroll. However, the loans should be promptly repaid, and the interfund receivables and payables kept to a minimum and in an evergreen situation. Corrective Action Planned: I am Anna Richman, Executive Director and Designated Person to answer these findings. As a new E.D., I have only recently become aware of this situation. To reduce the interfund amounts, the avenues we may pursue include but are not limited to the following: Nonfederal funds are maintained in the State and Local Fund. For reporting purposes, this fund is combined with the Low Rent program to comprise the General Fund. We may transfer some of these nonfederal funds to the Component Unit and the HCV Fund to allow them to reduce the interfund loans. Nonfederal funds may be used for this purpose. In addition, we may transfer an increased percentage of the HCV Admin fee to be periodically transferred to the General Fund. We also note that if and when the tangible property of the Veterans Resource Center is ever sold, the funds would revert to the General Fund. Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Anna Richman, Executive Director Telephone: (580) 353-7392 Housing Authority of Lawton Fax: (580) 353-6111 609 SW F Avenue Lawton, OK 73501 Anticipated Completion Date- June 30, 2026

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Eligibility HUD Housing Programs Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1187097 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1187098 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1187099 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.850 PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING $1.56M
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $877,760
14.872 PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND $639,971
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $182,535