Finding 1216333 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABGHL
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-06-02
Audit: 402827
Organization: City of Dade City (FL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City lacks formal documentation for internal controls over compliance with federal requirements, particularly regarding pay rate approvals and payroll reviews.
  • Impacted Requirements: This affects compliance with activities allowed, allowable costs, and reporting as mandated by federal regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The City should assess and improve documentation processes for internal controls to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.

Finding Text

Finding Number: 2024-003, Significant Deficiency ALN # 21.027: Federal Program: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Federal Agency: US Department of Treasury Grant # and Year: Y5065, 2024 Compliance Requirement: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Earmarking, Period of Performance, Reporting. Questioned Costs: N/A Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR § 200.303, non-federal entities are required to establish and maintain effective internal controls to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of federal awards. Condition: The City did not maintain formal documentation surrounding the internal controls over compliance for multiple compliance requirements. Specifically, for 1 of 12 employees tested for pay rate approvals, there was no documentation evidencing approval of the pay rate. In addition, there was no documented review of the payroll registers or of the project and expenditure reports submitted. Cause: Lack of documented controls over compliance primarily attributed to significant operational and personnel changes within the Finance Department. Effect: Potential for noncompliance with federal program requirements. Although there was a lack of internal controls documented, there were no instances of noncompliance noted. Recommendation: The City should evaluate their processes and procedures over internal controls are appropriately documented and maintained. Response: See attached Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Significant Deficiency Finding Number: 2024-003 Federal Award Finding and Questioned Costs Corrective Action Plan The City will evaluate their processes and procedures over internal controls to ensure that all employee rate changes and payroll registers are appropriately documented and maintained. While we maintain that oversight was in place, we concur with the finding and have identified the responsibility of the process to be placed on the finance department's fiscal assistants. The lack of documented review of the reporting process is noted, and procedures are now in place for documentation of the review and approval of the data as it is reported on portals as required. The Finance Officer will direct an accountant on staff or a professional consultant to complete the preparation of the reporting so that he/she can review and authorize the submission of reports. The implementation of upgraded software and strengthened internal control policies and procedures is a priority. Anticipated Completion Date September 30, 2026 Responsible Party The Finance Officer

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $1.95M
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $671,191
66.202 CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED PROJECTS $182,253
66.468 DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND $130,427