Finding 1208351 (2024-017)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
G
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-04-22
Audit: 399363
Organization: City of Danbury (CT)
Auditor: RSM US LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City of Danbury did not provide evidence of proper reviews and approvals for assigning projects to allowable expense categories for Coronavirus spending.
  • Impacted Requirements: The City claimed a standard allowance of $10 million without ensuring compliance with the 2022 Final Rule, risking ineligible expenses.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The City should collaborate with their consultant to establish a documented approval process for assigning eligible expense categories.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-017: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control - Earmarking Assistance Listing Program Title and Number: Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (21.027) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Treasury Pass-through Entity: N/A Award year: 2023 – 2024 Criteria or specific requirement: Under the 2022 Final Rule, recipients can elect a one-time “standard allowance” of $10 million (not to exceed the recipient’s award amount) to spend on the “provision of government services” during the period of performance. Alternatively, recipients can calculate lost revenue for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 based on the formula provided in the 2022 Final Rule to determine the amount of SLFRF funds that can be used for the “provision of government services.” The City of Danbury elected to claim the standard allowance even though their initial award from Treasury exceeded that. Condition: The City was not able to provide evidence of reviews and approvals of the assignment of various projects to the allowable expense categories for Coronavirus spending. Cause: Because the tracking mechanism used to track the eligible use categories is updated in real time, RSM was not able to review the control for the earmarking requirement, as that information had been saved over with more recent updates to the City's tracking worksheet. Effect: The City could have claimed an amount greater than the standard allowance of $10 million which would not be eligible to be claimed as an allowable expense. Context: Systemic in nature. Questioned Cost: Unknown Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the City work with their consultant to ensure that as eligible expense categories are assigned, there is documented approval for the assignment of those expenditure categories. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-017 Significant Deficiency in Internal Control – Earmarking Condition: Under the Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (21.027), the 2022 Final Rule, recipients can elect a one-time “standard allowance” of $10 million (not to exceed the recipient’s award amount) to spend on the “provision of government services” during the period of performance. Alternatively, recipients can calculate lost revenue for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 based on the formula provided in the 2022 Final Rule to determine the amount of SLFRF funds that can be used for the “provision of government services.” The City of Danbury elected to claim the standard allowance even though their initial award from Treasury exceeded that. Contact Person: Kara Prunty, Assistant Director of Finance – Grants, City of Danbury Corrective Actions Completed: We agree with the finding. The City implemented a controlled SLFRF project classification and support process by documenting approval of each project’s expenditure category/allowability with performing periodic reconciliations tying the tracker to the general ledger and reported totals, with approvals and reconciliations retained in the SLFRF grant file.

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Subrecipient Monitoring Period of Performance Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1208313 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208314 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208315 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208316 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208317 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208318 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208319 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208320 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208321 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208322 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208323 2024-014
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208324 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208325 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208326 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208327 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208328 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208329 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208330 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208331 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208332 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208333 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208334 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208335 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208336 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208337 2024-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208338 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208339 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208340 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208341 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208342 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208343 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208344 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208345 2024-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208346 2024-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208347 2024-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208348 2024-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208349 2024-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208350 2024-017
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208352 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208353 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208354 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208355 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208356 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208357 2024-016
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208358 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208359 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208360 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208361 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208362 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208363 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208364 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208365 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208366 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208367 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208368 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208369 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208370 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208371 2024-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208372 2024-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208373 2024-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208374 2024-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208375 2024-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208376 2024-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208377 2024-015
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208378 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208379 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208380 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208381 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208382 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208383 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208384 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208385 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208386 2024-018
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208387 2024-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208388 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208389 2024-013
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208390 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208391 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208392 2024-010
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $4.61M
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $3.33M
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $1.16M
20.106 AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT PROGRAMS, AND COVID-19 AIRPORTS PROGRAMS $1.15M
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $659,703
84.287 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS $424,825
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $373,250
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $342,067
10.560 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR CHILD NUTRITION $295,515
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $293,841
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $243,209
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $128,400
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $127,700
93.323 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ELC) $107,367
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $88,994
21.016 EQUITABLE SHARING $81,261
97.044 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT $62,992
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $57,313
20.616 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $52,978
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $50,039
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $31,500
93.069 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS $29,923
93.354 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE $23,117
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $20,651
93.758 PREVENTIVE HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT FUNDED SOLELY WITH PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDS (PPHF) $12,334
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $10,809
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $9,063
10.185 LOCAL FOOD FOR SCHOOLS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM $7,506
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $5,056
10.649 PANDEMIC EBT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS $3,956
45.310 GRANTS TO STATES $2,000
97.073 STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM (SHSP) $1,000