Response to Finding 2025-001 Timely Filing of SF-425, Federal Financial Report (FFR) (Federal Award Finding) An SF-425 annual report, covering the period ending September 30th, is due within 90 days of the reporting period for each open Airport Improvement Program (AIP) that receives funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Prior to submission, Talbot County ensures the accuracy of each financial report by reconciling amounts between various sources, including vendor invoices, SF-271 forms, Talbot County’s ERP/accounting system, and the FAA’s web-based electronic invoicing and grant payment portal system (Delphi). While this multi-step verification process supports the accuracy of financial reports, it remains highly manual and is constrained by increasing workloads, limited resources, and a lean workforce. This challenge has intensified and become more apparent over the last few years due to the recent surge in the number of open and active AIPs. Further compounding the issue were delayed responses from the FAA and the Federal government shutdown that occurred from October 1, 2025 to November 12, 2025. During this 43-day period, Talbot County staff were unable to effectively communicate with the FAA to verify essential financial data necessary to complete the SF-425 reports. Auditee’s Corrective Action Plan: Talbot County’s corrective action plan focuses on evaluating the current workflow to identify bottlenecks (points of constraint) and opportunities to leverage technology and improve efficiency. Ultimately, a clearly defined grant process will be implemented that establishes roles, responsibilities, and expectations for staff. Increasing the frequency of grant tracking and reconciliation activities throughout the year will be a key component, as this will mitigate the potential for reporting delays and minimize the burden on staff when SF- 425 reports are due subsequent to the Federal fiscal year ending each September 30th. The improved grant procedures will expand the role of Talbot County’s Finance Office and allow for the consistent timely filing of SF-425 reports. This is an evolving process that will show marked improvement for the 2026 Single Audit. Sincerely, Martha Darling Sparks Finance Director