Finding 1190942 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-27
Audit: 395211
Organization: Ablelight Residence Fremont Inc (WI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The operating cash account exceeded the FDIC limit of $250,000, and the organization failed to monitor the financial institution's credit rating as required by HUD.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Uniform Guidance necessitates that cash accounts be FDIC insured or that credit ratings of financial institutions be actively monitored.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should establish internal controls to ensure compliance with HUD requirements, including quarterly reviews of cash balances and financial institution credit ratings.

Finding Text

Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Program and Assistance Listing Number: Project-Based Rental Assistance, 14.195, Section 8 Project Number CA39T791002 Condition: We found that the operating cash account balance was over the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) limit of $250,000 during the year ended August 31, 2025, however, the Organization was not actively monitoring the financial institution credit rating as required by HUD. Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires the Organization to have adequate controls to ensure it remains in compliance with activities allowed or unallowed. This includes the operating cash account being maintained in FDIC insured accounts or monitoring the credit rating of the financial institution where the funds are held to ensure the security of the cash balance. Questioned costs: The amount of questioned costs cannot be determined. Context: While the escrow deposits, reserve for replacements funds and the residual receipts reserve funds are required to be held with the mortgage holder, all remaining cash is required to be FDIC insured or the financial institution credit rating must be monitored by the Organization. The operating cash account was over the threshold and the financial institution rating was not being actively monitored by management. Effect: The Organization was not in compliance with the requirements of the federal program as it relates to activities allowed or unallowed.. Cause: Management was not aware of the requirement to have the funds insured or monitoring the bank credit rating. Recommendation: We recommend management develop internal processes and controls surrounding activities allowed or unallowed. This includes following the requirements as outlined by HUD to have the operating cash be FDIC insured or actively be monitoring the credit rating of the financial institution. Management response: Management will implement quarterly reviews of HUD cash balances as well as review the credit ratings of the financial institutions holding HUD cash balances.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding: The operating cash account balance was over the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) limit of $250,000 during the year ended August 31, 2025, however, the Organization was not actively monitoring the financial institution credit rating as required by HUD. We recommend management develop internal processes and controls surrounding activities allowed or unallowed. This includes following the requirements as outlined by HUD to have the operating cash be FDIC insured or actively be monitoring the credit rating of the financial institution. Corrective Response: Management will implement quarterly reviews of HUD cash balances as well as review the credit ratings of the financial institutions holding HUD cash balances. Anticipated Completion Date: 3/31/26 Responsible Contact Person: Brenda Satterfield, CFO and Errol Meinholz, Controller 920-245-9275

Categories

HUD Housing Programs

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.155 MORTGAGE INSURANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OR REFINANCING OF EXISTING MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS $7.32M
14.195 PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE (PBRA) $827,397