Finding 1221284 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-06-30
Audit: 405638
Organization: Rock Island Housing Authority (IL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Public Housing Authorities are improperly using Operating Funds to cover shortfalls in the COCC, leading to noncompliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: This practice violates the stipulation that Operating Funds cannot be used for nonfederal programs, affecting financial integrity.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger controls over cash management and separate funds for each program to ensure compliance and proper fund usage.

Finding Text

Federal Program: 14.850 - Public Housing Criteria: Public Housing Authorities are disallowed from using Operating Funds as funding to other nonfederal programs. Condition: Public Housing Authorities have pooled cash and the COCC has had a negative cash balance over the past fiscal years. Cause: The Housing Authority is using public housing reserves to fund the COCC shortfall. The COCC is short on cash due to large receivables from tax credit properties. Effect: The Housing Authority is not in compliance with Public Housing Operating Fund compliance requirements regarding the use of operation funds. Questioned Costs: Not applicable. Information: Sampling was not applicable to this finding and is a systematic problem. Prior Year Finding: This was a prior year audit finding numbered 2024-002. Recommendation: It is recommended that the Housing Authority implements appropriate controls over Public Housing cash to ensure the proper use of operating funds. Management’s Response: In order to keep cash as accurate as possible, we will work to clear interfund as often as possible. With upcoming development revenue that we will see come in over the next 1-2 years on the non profit side, we will work to prioritize returning funds to the Public Housing Operating Funds. To prevent co-mingling of cash, we will begin a plan to break apart the funds for each program - Spencer, COCC, 3rd and 11th. Each quarter, we access payroll allocations to better reflect employees’ use of time and actual costs incurred by program and by LITC property. Public Housing and COCC training is planned that all finance staff will attend to make sure proper HUD procedures, rules, and guidelines are followed. The plan is to reduce the receivable down to $-0- as soon as possible and within 5 years.

Corrective Action Plan

In order to keep cash as accurate as possible, we will work to clear interfund as often as possible. With upcoming development revenue that we will see come in over the next 1-2 years on the non profit side, we will work to prioritize returning funds to the Public Housing Operating Funds. To prevent co-mingling of cash, we will begin a plan to break apart the funds for each program - Spencer, COCC, 3rd and 11th. Each quarter, we access payroll allocations to better reflect employees’ use of time and actual costs incurred by program and by LITC property. Public Housing and COCC training is planned that all finance staff will attend to make sure proper HUD procedures, rules, and guidelines are followed. The plan is to reduce the receivable down to $-0- as soon as possible and within 5 years.

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1221285 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.872 PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND $819,037
14.850 PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND $707,724
14.870 RESIDENT OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES - SERVICE COORDINATORS $67,099
14.896 FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM $58,276
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $50,565